Rajesh Kumar, who recently played the role of Aneet Padda’s on-screen father in Mohit Suri’s blockbuster hit Saiyaara, had once left acting to take up farming. He even sold vegetables outside his son’s school. And, according to the Sarabhai vs Sarabhai actor, this had a bigger purpose than just making headlines. He wanted to prove a point to the new generation: “Farming is neither a bad thing nor embarrassing.”
In a recent interview with Galatta India, the actor shared, “Despite facing loss in farming, I wanted to prove a point that being a farmer is not a bad thing. I ignored those losses and focused on: ‘Will my work inspire kids?’ To educate them, I went outside my son’s school and sold vegetables. It was to show them that no work is small. If they are taught well now, growing up they will respect people who are in this industry. I wanted my children to respect farmers.”
While Rajesh Kumar was committed to his love for farming, it was not enough. He needed money. And with no job in hand, he took several loans but was unable to pay them off with earning from farming.
He shared, “The news about bankruptcy was true. I was under debt and there was no income. I am still paying it off. I am left with about 10-12% of it.”
Opening up about the challenges he faced while farming, Rajesh Kumar admitted that it was not a difficult job. “Farming is not difficult. The most difficult part is to convince people to buy what you grow and that it is organic. To teach the educated is the toughest job in the world. I got trapped in this. I started to teach, ‘why millet, why natural, the difference between natural and organic’. People don’t want to research.”
While farming never earned him money, it ended up making him a better actor. “Farming helped me become a better actor. Now, whenever my role demands emotions, I simply remember my farming days and tear up.” He laughed as he said, “I don’t have to visualise as an actor that my parents died or a friend died, I simply remember: ‘Arey yaar, khet mein aag lag gaya tha uss din (The farm caught fire the other day).’”
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Rajesh Kumar is back into acting. But he continues to share agricultural-related information on his Instagram handle. He even takes part in special events where he educates students about agriculture, and gardening.
