From working at a tea stall, selling trophies for Rs 300-400 to buying a luxurious house in Mumbai: Rags to Riches story of Sudesh Lehri

Sudesh Lehri, who won many hearts with his comedy skills on Laughter Chefs has had a roller coaster of a journey in his professional life. The comedian has not only worked at a tea stall, and shoe shop but also sold his trophy for Rs 300-400 to earn money. He recently even made an appearance at Bigg Boss 18 and won many hearts. A look at his rags-to-riches story:-

Sudesh Lehri has not had an easy childhood and the comedian has opened up about it on several occasions. From selling his trophy at Rs 300-400 to never going to school, Sudesh has seen it all and yet has made a name for himself in the comedy industry. In a candid conversation on Manish Paul’s podcast, Sudesh Lehri opened up about the struggles he faced during his childhood, recalling the odd jobs he had to take on due to his poor background. He shared, “There was no opportunity to study. Since childhood, I’ve done small jobs. I’ve worked in factories, at tea stalls. I used to make tea, but we couldn’t afford tea at home. So, when I’d carry 5-6 cups in one hand and a kettle in the other, walking barefoot to the factory to deliver the tea, I’d sneak into a corner, have a cup myself, wash the glass, and then continue. That was our situation.”

Sudesh never had the chance to attend school. His family put him to work at a tea stall, where he earned just one rupee. Out of necessity, he took on various jobs, enduring many challenging and low moments throughout his life.

Sudesh never had the chance to attend school. His family put him to work at a tea stall, where he earned just one rupee. Out of necessity, he took on various jobs, enduring many challenging and low moments throughout his life.

The comedian has worked in a slipper factory and even sold kulfi and vegetables. Reflecting on those experiences, he said, “That was a practical workshop for me as an actor. While selling kulfi, vegetables… we had to act. I’ve never been to school, and I do miss it.”

Sudesh Lehri once revealed that he used to earn Rs 1,000 per show as a singer in an orchestra, performing around 25-30 shows. He recalled feeling content, especially since he was already married and had children by then. However, one unforgettable moment during a performance was when a drunk man came up to him and slapped him while he was singing, leaving him shocked. Despite the challenges, Sudesh remained committed to his craft.

Sudesh Lehri also ventured into Punjabi films, but after facing multiple setbacks, he decided to try his luck in Mumbai. While pursuing his dreams, Sudesh encountered challenges, including a language barrier that affected his earnings. Once, due to his limited knowledge of English, he mistakenly asked for Rs 15,000 instead of Rs 50,000 for a show. When he realized the error after being paid, he laughed it off, unwilling to admit that his misunderstanding of the language had caused the confusion. This experience highlighted the struggles he faced early in his career, but he remained undeterred.

Sudesh’s fortunes changed when he participated in The Great Indian Laughter Challenge III, where he finished third, with Chandan Prabhakar securing second place and Kapil Sharma taking home the winner’s trophy. From there, he went on to become a household name, participating in popular comedy shows like Dekh India Dekh, Comedy Circus, and Comedy Classes. Over the years, he won several trophies, which now proudly adorn his wall of fame in his luxurious home. Most recently, he was seen on Laughter Chefs and made a special appearance on Bigg Boss 18.

Despite achieving great success, Sudesh Lehri remains humble and full of humor. He recently gave a tour of his luxurious 4-bedroom apartment, with his close friend Krushna Abhishek even likening it to a 7-star hotel.