Saiyaara actor took up farming and sold vegetables to teach kids respect. Says it made him a better performer despite going bankrupt

Time of India

23-07-2025

Rajesh Kumar
, widely loved for his comic timing as Rosesh in the cult sitcom
Sarabhai vs Sarabhai
, took a path few actors dare to tread. At the peak of his career, he walked away from the glamour of the entertainment industry to get his hands dirty—literally. His goal? To teach his children, and a generation of urban youth, a life lesson: that
farming
is not shameful.
In a recent interview with
Galatta India
, Kumar revealed that he once sold vegetables outside his son's school after taking up agriculture full-time. His intent was clear—not publicity, but perspective. 'I wanted to prove a point that being a farmer is not a bad thing,' he said.
The Real Lesson Was Off-Screen
The actor's decision wasn't born out of mere whim. Kumar was driven by a deeper mission to instill respect for the farming community, especially in children growing up far removed from the soil.
'To educate them, I went outside my son's school and sold vegetables,' he shared. 'It was to show them that no work is small… I wanted my children to respect farmers.'
While most would hide behind a facade of fame, Kumar stood on the street selling produce, not as an actor-turned-vendor, but as a father on a mission.
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Bankruptcy, But Not Broken
The road was anything but smooth. Farming didn't bring him riches—it brought debt. 'The news about bankruptcy was true,' he confirmed. 'I am still paying it off. I'm left with about 10–12% of it now.'
Yet even in loss, Kumar found value. 'Farming helped me become a better actor. Now, whenever my role demands emotions, I simply remember my farming days and tear up,' he quipped. 'I don't have to imagine a tragedy—I just think of the day the farm caught fire.'
Battling the Biases
For Kumar, the hardest part of farming wasn't the labor—it was breaking stereotypes. 'Farming is not difficult,' he said. 'The real challenge is convincing educated people to buy what you grow and believe that it is organic. Teaching the educated is the toughest job in the world.'
Despite his
financial struggles
, he continues to advocate for
sustainable living
,
organic food
, and awareness about millets. He regularly shares agriculture-related content on his social media and speaks at events to educate young minds.
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While the fields didn't fill his pockets, they did enrich his craft. Farming, Kumar says, gave him a depth of emotion that formal training never could. 'It actually made me a more emotionally available actor,' he shared. With a chuckle, he added, 'Now I don't need to imagine tragic scenes like someone's death to cry on cue—I just recall the day my farm went up in flames. That pain was real.'
A Return to the Screen, But With Roots Still in Soil
Now seen in Mohit Suri's blockbuster
Saiyaara
, playing Aneet Padda's father, Kumar says he has returned to acting with greater emotional depth. But his outlook toward the industry remains critical.
In the same interview, he criticized the hierarchy system in
Bollywood
. 'The system is changing, but it still exists. I've felt it myself. Sometimes even sitting on the same couch as a bigger actor becomes difficult.'
He recalled how genuine interactions—like one with Dimple Kapadia in Jaisalmer—are rare but necessary. 'She paused a conversation about herself and asked us about our stories. That's real connection.'
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