Meet Actor Who Sold Vegetables After Quitting Acting, Faced Huge Debt, and Tried to Get on Shark Tank India
Success in the entertainment industry is never guaranteed. Many actors experience ups and downs, even after achieving fame. One such actor is Rajesh Kumar, who quit acting, started a business that failed, fell into heavy debt, and even sold vegetables outside his son’s school. But today, he has made a strong comeback in the industry.
From Stardom to Struggles
Born on January 20, 1975, in Patna, Bihar, Rajesh Kumar became a household name after playing Rosesh Sarabhai in the hit sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. After working on several successful projects, he decided to quit acting and pursue farming in his village, Gaya.
The Farming Dream That Led to Financial Struggles
When Rajesh started his farming business, he reached out to his friends for help. While some supported him, others ignored his calls. He even developed an app to manage his business, but things took a bad turn when he was cheated in the process.
A Debt of Rs 2 Crore and Selling Vegetables
Rajesh soon found himself in debt of around Rs 2 crore. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, he shared,
“It became too overwhelming. I told myself that I had to find a way. Otherwise, I would die with this debt.”
To survive, he sold vegetables outside his son’s school when his son was in the third grade. People thought he had gone mad, but he had no choice. His son, seeing him struggle, went to his teachers and asked them to buy vegetables from his father.
Trying to Get on Shark Tank India
During this tough time, Rajesh tried various ventures. He even applied for Shark Tank India, hoping to secure funding for his business. He cleared two rounds, submitted videos, and believed his fame as an actor might help him.
He traveled to Kolkata for the presentation, with his father paying for his ticket. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out, but something better was waiting for him.
A Big Comeback in Acting
Soon after, Rajesh landed a role in Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s film Haddi, which was released on an OTT platform. The best part? He got the role without even auditioning.
For one of his scenes, he shaved his head and was even paid an extra lakh rupees for it. After Haddi, he bagged roles in Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon’s Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya and films like Rautu Ka Raaz and Binny and Family.
A Journey of Resilience
Despite facing so many struggles, Rajesh Kumar never gave up. His talent, dedication, and positive attitude helped him make a strong comeback in the industry.
On the personal front, Rajesh married Madhavi Chopra in 2004, and they have a son together.
His Impact on Indian Television
Apart from Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Rajesh has worked in many popular TV shows like:
- Baa Bahoo Aur Baby
- Kulvaddhu
- Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale
- Badi Door Se Aaye Hai
- Yam Kisi Se Kam Nahin
His performances in web series like Kota Factory and Yeh Meri Family have also been loved by the audience.
Rajesh Kumar’s story proves that life can be unpredictable, but with determination, one can rise again. Today, he is back doing what he loves—acting and entertaining his fans!
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