Celebrities
This Actor Lived On Parle-G Biscuits, Faced Rejection For His Looks, Is Now A Bollywood Star
Rajkummar Rao is regarded as one of Bollywood’s most versatile actors. His films consistently generate excitement. However, the actor’s journey to the top was far from easy. Long before he became a household name, Rajkummar Rao faced numerous struggles while trying to establish himself in the film industry.
In a chat at the India Today Conclave East 2022, Rajkummar Rao opened up about his early days in Mumbai. “There were times when I lived on one Parle-G ka packet a day with just Rs 18 in my bank account. Luckily, I had friends from film school who helped. But I never had a Plan B. I always wanted to become an actor,” he said.
In a conversation with Bollywood Bubble, he recalled being criticised for the way he looked. When asked about his early days and rejections he faced, Rajkummar Rao said, “I was told so many things. You are not tall enough, your built is not right, your eyebrows are a little… not in a certain shape. Very weird things. I was like ‘What? What about acting?’ Voh kisko chahiye? (Who wants that?)”
Rajkummar Rao made his acting debut in 2010 with Love Sex Aur Dhokha. The film was directed by Dibakar Banerjee. He appeared in the “Paap Ki Dukaan” segment of the experimental anthology film. His performances in Kai Po Che and Shahid earned him critical acclaim and gradually helped him carve a niche for himself.
Rajkummar Rao achieved his commercial breakthrough and superstar status with the 2018 horror-comedy Stree, where he played the quirky tailor Vicky. The film’s success launched him into the mainstream, and its 2024 sequel, Stree 2, cemented his position as one of Hindi cinema’s most bankable actors.
Upcoming films: The actor will be next seen in Prahaar – The Ujjwal Nikam Story, Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Biopic, Raftaar.