Rajesh Kumar Left Acting On Sadhguru's Advice, Took Up Farming And Landed In Rs 2 Crore Debt

Rajesh Kumar, best known for playing Rosesh in the popular sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, stepped away from acting in 2017 and returned to his hometown, Gaya, Bihar, to do farming. 

What began as an attempt to understand agriculture more closely eventually turned into a challenging five-year journey that left him with a debt of Rs 2 crore.

Why Did Rajesh Kumar Leave Acting?

Rajesh's interest in farming grew after several interactions with spiritual leader Sadhguru. Although he was not initially convinced by Sadhguru's teachings, he eventually became a follower and hosted several events for the Isha Foundation.

He was also associated with Sadhguru's Rally for Rivers campaign, where he helped host events. 

One particular message from Sadhguru stayed with him and eventually influenced his decision to move into agriculture.

He shared, "There was one thing which Sadhguru was constantly saying during the rally, 'Give me 100 youth from your state and I will change the face of agriculture. But for three years, do not ask me, what about me?' So when I reached my village, I suddenly happened to complete that line for myself, that the day you stop thinking about yourself, is the day you start thinking about others and the day you start thinking about others, others start thinking about you."

Rajesh said his growing understanding of the problems faced by farmers made him want to experience the challenges himself rather than simply advise others.

He added, "With all the information and the kind of education we are part of, I realised that it is better that instead of being on this side and asking the farmers to not put pesticides, I will have to jump on the other side and understand where the problem is. So I went on the other side and became a farmer myself. I tried horticulture and failed badly."

"But after being under Sadhguru's grace, I won't call it failure. Now it doesn't bother me that because I do not want to label it under success or failure. There was so much learning that happened, which otherwise, I couldn't have learnt," he concluded. 

Rajesh's Farming Experience

Rajesh's experience with farming was far from smooth. He said it took him almost five years to understand agriculture, farmland and soil. During that time, he faced several setbacks.

He initially started plantation work, but a flood hit the area after nearly 35 years and destroyed everything he had planted.

He shared, "It happened in such a way that I started, I did plantation, the flood happened in that area after 35 years, everything got washed away."

Despite the setback, Rajesh tried again and planted another 15,000 trees. His efforts, however, were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He later made another attempt at planting trees, only to face yet another problem when the water table disappeared.

He said, "The last effort... And the money I had, I could only get drilled 500 feet for borewell, and there was not even a drop of water. All these things were happening simultaneously."

'Due To Spirituality, I Was Never Depressed'

The repeated losses also came at a time when Rajesh did not have a steady source of income. Yet, he says he never allowed the circumstances to overwhelm him emotionally.

When asked whether the difficulties ever broke him, Rajesh credited spirituality for helping him remain calm.

He said, "Due to spirituality, I never went into any anxiety, depression, frustration, anger, nothing bothered me. Nothing was happening and I was seeing it not happening. But my effort and process didn't stop. That is what spirituality is."

At one point during his financial struggles, Rajesh even sold vegetables outside his son's school. Despite the circumstances, he has maintained that he did not view the period as something he had failed at.

Rajesh Kumar's Rs 2 Crore Debt

The financial consequences of his farming venture were significant. In an earlier conversation with Meri Saheli, Rajesh revealed that he had accumulated a debt of Rs 2 crore after investing in the business.

He said, "There was no incoming, and I had exhausted all my reserves because of the outgoing. I went under debt of Rs 2 crore. (Bankruptcy) is a big word, but definitely, I had that feeling with me for a long time. I was not able to generate money for survival also. This was definitely a phase," he had said.

Rajesh's financial situation has since improved considerably. In April, he revealed that his debt had come down to around Rs 20 lakh.

"I'm out of that financial cycle now. Only about 10-15% of the debt remains," he told Bollywood Bubble.

Rajesh Kumar's Acting Career

Rajesh Kumar rose to prominence with his portrayal of Rosesh Sarabhai in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, one of the most loved sitcoms of the 2000s. After stepping away from acting for his farming venture, he gradually returned to the screen.

In recent years, he has appeared in films and projects including Saiyaara, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, Ohh My Dog and Nishaanchi.