When Saiyaara star Rajesh Kumar had just ₹2,500 left: 'I was ₹20 million in debt'

Rajesh Kumar, known for his iconic role as Rosesh Sarabhai in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, has made a successful comeback with Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara. The romantic drama, starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has stunned the industry with its box office numbers — grossing over ₹4,000 million (₹4 billion) worldwide.

In Saiyaara, Rajesh plays the father of Vaani Batra (Aneet), a young journalist diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. His performance has earned praise for its emotional depth — something he says came from personal experience.

A role close to home

Rajesh recently told Zoom that his portrayal in Saiyaara felt deeply personal, as his own mother is battling the same illness. “When I heard the script, I didn’t need to act. I just had to feel it,” he said. “I see my father, who’s not vocal about his suffering, and that inspired the silence in my performance.”

Turning to farming after quitting acting

In 2019, Rajesh Kumar stepped away from the spotlight and turned to farming. His aim: to break the stigma that farming is a last resort. “Nobody grows up wanting to be a farmer. I wanted to change that mindset,” he told Meri Saheli.

But reality hit hard. Within a few years, Rajesh says he was struggling to survive.

'I had just ₹2,500 left in my account'

Speaking candidly about his lowest point, the actor said he was left with only ₹2,500 in his bank account, and debts totalling ₹20 million. “There was no incoming, and I had exhausted all my reserves. I wasn’t even able to make money for survival,” he shared.

During a shoot for Binny and Family in the UK, Rajesh recalled being unable to buy even two chocolates for his kids. “That was rock bottom,” he told Dainik Bhaskar.

Covid, losses and a failing harvest

His financial downfall was compounded by back-to-back setbacks — unpredictable weather and the pandemic. “By the time lockdown hit, I had used up all my savings. I was literally bankrupt,” he told Rajshri Unplugged.

Despite the hardship, Rajesh credits the experience for shaping him as an actor. “Farming made me better. When I need to cry on screen, I just remember the day my fields caught fire,” he laughed in an interview with Galatta India.

Family support kept him going

Amid the chaos, his family was his only anchor. “They stood by me when I had nothing,” he said. Rajesh believes it’s time to dismantle the myth that farming is for those with no other options. “We need to inspire future generations to see farming as a noble profession.”

Riding high on Saiyaara’s blockbuster success

While his past few years were marked by personal and financial challenges, Rajesh is now basking in the success of Saiyaara. With critics applauding his grounded performance and the film poised to cross ₹5,000 million (₹5 billion) globally, the actor says it feels like the tide has finally turned.

About Saiyaara

Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by YRF, Saiyaara follows the story of Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), an aspiring singer, and journalist Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), whose love story is tested by life-altering challenges. With its emotional core, fresh lead pair, and chart-topping soundtrack, the film has become one of 2025’s biggest hits — surprising many with its enduring box office streak.