‘Saiyaara’ and ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’ actor Rajesh Kumar has candidly opened up about the darkest phase of his life, revealing how his decision to step away from acting for farming left him in severe financial distress. Recalling the humiliating experiences of selling his car, facing abusive recovery agents and losing almost everything, Kumar said those difficult years ultimately transformed him into a more grounded person and a stronger actor.
Rajesh Kumar on his sabbatical and losing everything
Speaking to SCREEN about those hard years, Kumar says, “I think it was all part of God’s plan. What happened was that, at what many would call the peak of my career, I took a sabbatical from acting at the age of 42. I turned to farming, and I lost everything. Then I returned to acting in 2022. Those five years transformed me as a human being. I became more real, more grounded. I mean I came to understand the depths of suffering, how much pain a person can endure, how humiliating it feels when you have nothing left.“
Rajesh Kumar on selling his car and facing abuse from recovery agents
Looking back on the toughest phase of his life, Kumar shared how money troubles pushed both his patience and his self-respect to the limit. “I’ve lived through moments where the credit card recovery agent would call the watchman’s cabin downstairs and abuse me because I didn’t have the money to pay. I sold my car. The last vehicle I owned was an Eco Car, which I eventually handed over to my farmers in Nashik because I couldn’t pay them. I’ve been through so much. But despite all that, I never allowed myself to sink into depression, anxiety, or any kind of negative emotion. The biggest takeaway from the last four or five years has been the learning, it has been incredibly beautiful.”
Rajesh Kumar on how hardship shaped his craft
Those uncertain years also laid the groundwork for his craft. According to Kumar, the hardships he faced turned him into a more intuitive performer, someone who understands people deeply instead of just playing them. “When a variety of roles started coming my way, I realised I could see so many different people within myself. I’d lived through so many situations, and it’s our experiences that shape us. As we say, ‘It is in times of scarcity that one’s true character is revealed.‘ Those experiences slowly became a part of who I am. And when these characters started coming to me, I found myself instinctively justifying their actions. They kept making sense to me, and perhaps that’s where my confidence as an actor came from.”For Kumar, the answer lies in simply becoming more human. “I think it all comes down to becoming more human. The more human I’ve become, the better the work has turned out.”
