This actor cycled 140 km daily to acting school, survived on ₹18 and Frooti-biscuit lunches, then won National Award

As Rajkummar Rao turns 42, we reflect on his journey from financial struggles to becoming a celebrated actor.

Rajkummar Rao is one of the most critically acclaimed actors in the country. As he turns 42 on Monday, we look back at his journey from struggling to make ends meet in Mumbai to establishing himself as one of the most sought-after actors in the Hindi film industry.

'Would cycle for 140 kms'

Rajkummar Rao in a still from Prahaar.

In an interaction with Ranveer Allahbadia in 2024, Rajkummar shared that he wanted to become an actor from his school days and was involved in theatre. It was his mother who recognised his passion and encouraged him to pursue acting.

Rajkummar, who hails from Gurugram, recalled that at the age of 18, he would cycle 70 km each way from Gurugram to Delhi every day to attend acting school at the Sri Ram Centre. He would often listen to songs such as “Lakshya Ko Har Haal Me Pana Hai” and “Papa Kahte Hain” on his walkman during the journey. The actor said that though it might sound romantic, but it was his reality at that time and he didn't mind it.

'I was left with only ₹18'

The darkest phase came when Rajkummar was struggling in Mumbai and did not have enough money to buy himself a meal. He said, “The most difficult time was facing financial difficulty and getting no work. My mother supported me a lot and when I would run out of money, she would arrange it and send. I remember once I was left with only ₹18 in my account and that too in a city like Mumbai. I used to spend very frugally. We three used to live in one flat and I used to skip lunch and have one Parle G and Frooti for lunch. My lunch would cost me ₹4 at the time.”

This was the time when Rajkummar's FTII batchmates came to his help. He said, “Now, the day I was left with only ₹18, I was thinking what will I do? We have a FTII (Film and Television Institute of India) committee in Mumbai. A lot of our seniors and juniors live here. So, you can ring anybody and ask them what are they having for dinner and if you can come.”

Rajkummar Rao's films

After Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Rajkummar starred in critically acclaimed films such as Gangs of Wasseypur 2, Kai Po Che!, Queen, Shaitaan, Aligarh and Shahid,which made him win the Best Actor National Award. While several of Rajkummar's films did not emerge as major box-office successes, his performances were widely appreciated by critics and audiences. He was last seen in Toaster with Sanya Malhotra.

Rajkummar Rao's Prahaar

Rajkummar will next be seen in Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, a biographical courtroom drama based on the life and career of renowned public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. The film is directed by Avinash Arun and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films. It also stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikander Kher, Ashish Vidyarthi, Lalit Prabhakar and Ritvik Sahore. The film explores some of the landmark cases associated with Nikam, including the trial of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Ajmal Kasab.