Rajesh Kareer, a TV actor who has also worked in films like Mangal Pandey, Agneepath 2, is facing major financial crunch due to the pandemic crisis. He recently put out a post seeking help from people to go back to his hometown in Punjab.
We got in touch with Rajesh to know if he has received any help and what's the status now:
Have people contacted you or helped you with money?
Yes, after seeing my post on Facebook people did call me and a few of them also helped but no major help has come my way till now, as I am not a big name in the industry and my circle is also that big and posh.
How much money have you received yet?
Around Rupees 40 thousand- some have sent Rs 200, 500 and some have sent Rs 5000.
What about the unions with whom you are registered?
CINTAA did give us money around 10-11 k for this 3-month-long lockdown with help of Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar. But when you have a family, it's impossible to survive for so long in this amount. It's me, my wife and 11-year-old son.
So you are planing to go back to Punjab with this money?
Yes, I think we will have to pack up from Mumbai now. I have worked in this industry for more than a decade, so I know there is no future for actors like us anytime soon. Even if shoots resume in a month's time, we will have to start from zero again.
So what will you do in Punjab?
We have a home there. Currently in Mumbai I am staying at a rented apartment in Naigaon for 6k per month and I don't have that kind of money to shell out every month. In Punjab I will look for some small work as I have that there industry still have some scope for artistes like me.
Will you come back to Mumbai in future?
Of course I will! This city is close to my heart. I have stayed here for long 17-18 years. I have worked so much and build a life for me and my family here. Unfortunately I have reached to a level where managing things are going out of my hand and hence I have decided to go back. In future if I get any work I will for sure come to do it.
What was the last work you did?
I did a movie in July 2019 titled Bhuj starring Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt and Sonakshi Sinha as main leads. But last schedule of that film is still pending although my work got finished last year and I got my payment also but since then I haven't got any work and due to that all my savings have ended now.
How much did you earn on an average?
Honestly, what I ask for, I don't get but there was a time when I have been paid 15k per day while I was doing my show Begusarai which ended in March 2016 and post that I was at home for two and half years as I didn't get any work and now no one pays me of that scale. Then I did a small character in Chandragupt Maurya for almost one and half month and then this movie Bhuj came to me.
Have you tried to contact any of your co-stars?
If you guys can reach to Aamir Khan then please spread my word to him as I started my career with his film Mangal Pandey. It's been more than 15 years now but I hope he will recognise me. Also, Randeep Hooda as I have worked with him in two films. He also got very pally with me on the sets because we both belong to Punjab.
Image Source:- instagram /dharasrajesh/ randeephooda/_aamirkhan
Image Source:- instagram /dharasrajesh/ randeephooda/_aamirkhan