NEW DELHI, India — Actor Rajesh Kumar, best known for playing Rosesh in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, has recalled the difficult financial consequences of leaving acting to pursue farming in Bihar, saying the decision eventually left him with debt of around Rs 2 crore. Despite the setbacks, he does not view that period of his life as a failure.
- Key Highlights:
- Rajesh Kumar left acting in 2017 and moved from Mumbai to his hometown in Gaya, Bihar, to pursue farming.
- His farming experiments were disrupted by floods, the Covid-19 pandemic and a severe water shortage.
- He said he eventually accumulated debt of around Rs 2 crore after investing his savings into the venture.
- Rajesh said only around 10–15% of that debt remained by April, while he has since returned to acting.
Why Rajesh Kumar left acting for farming
Rajesh Kumar’s decision to leave the entertainment industry was influenced by his interactions with spiritual leader Sadhguru. Kumar said he became interested in farming after participating in programmes associated with the Isha Foundation and hosting events connected with Sadhguru’s Rally for Rivers campaign.
The actor said a message about young people becoming involved in agriculture stayed with him. He eventually decided that understanding farming required more than simply discussing the difficulties faced by farmers.
Kumar had previously advised farmers against using pesticides, but he later reconsidered his position. He felt that experiencing agricultural work personally would help him understand why farmers sometimes resorted to such practices.
In 2017, he left Mumbai and returned to his hometown in Gaya, Bihar, where he began working in horticulture. His objective was not simply to generate an income but also to experience the realities of farming firsthand.
Floods destroyed his initial farming effort
The transition proved much harder than Kumar had anticipated. He said it took roughly five years to understand the land and the challenges involved in farming.
His early efforts appeared promising after he planted saplings, but a severe flood subsequently destroyed the plants. Kumar described the flooding as the worst in the area in nearly 35 years.
Rather than abandoning the project, he planted around 15,000 trees again. The recovery effort, however, was followed by another major disruption when the Covid-19 pandemic affected his plans.
Kumar made another attempt to continue his agricultural work, only to encounter a serious shortage of water. He used his available funds to drill a borewell to a depth of around 500 feet, but the effort did not produce the water he needed.
Farming losses pushed debt to Rs 2 crore
With no steady source of income, Kumar continued putting money into the farm while the expected financial returns did not materialise. He eventually exhausted his savings and accumulated debt of approximately Rs 2 crore.
The financial pressure became severe enough that Kumar said there were times when he sold vegetables outside his son’s school to make ends meet. The experience represented a dramatic change from his earlier career in television and films.
Despite the financial losses, Kumar has rejected the idea that his farming experiment represented a failure. He said the experience gave him an opportunity to understand agriculture and the circumstances faced by farmers more closely.
Spirituality helped him through the difficult period
Kumar has also credited spirituality with helping him deal with the financial and personal pressure that followed his decision. He said he did not allow the circumstances to leave him depressed or angry and continued to believe that work and effort should go on.
His association with Sadhguru had begun before his move into farming. Kumar said he was not initially a believer in Sadhguru’s teachings but gradually became a follower after a series of interactions and experiences connected with the Isha Foundation.
That influence ultimately became an important factor in his decision to leave the acting profession temporarily and pursue agriculture.
Rajesh Kumar reduces most of his debt
Kumar’s financial position has improved considerably since the most difficult phase of his farming journey. In April, he said that only around 10–15% of the debt remained.
Based on the approximately Rs 2 crore debt he had previously described, that would put the remaining amount at roughly Rs 20 lakh. The figure represents a substantial reduction from the level of debt accumulated during his years in agriculture.
Actor gradually returns to screen
Rajesh Kumar eventually returned to acting after stepping away from the profession. He remains widely recognised for his portrayal of Rosesh in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, the role that established him as a familiar face among television audiences.
His more recent projects include Saiyaara, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, Oh My Dog and Nishaanchi. His return to entertainment marks another phase in a career that has taken him from television and films to agriculture and back to acting.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Content Creator of The Nation Bulletin, an independent digital news platform focused on delivering timely, reliable and meaningful news from India and around the world.
