Rajesh Kumar, best known for his portrayal of Rosesh Sarabhai in Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai, has decided to take a step back from television. He admits that TV demands long-term commitments, and at this point, he no longer finds leading roles in the medium appealing. He acknowledges that television mainly revolves around younger couples, and at his stage, he is usually offered uncle roles, which do not interest him. However, he holds deep respect for the platform, calling it the best place to refine skills and understand the technicalities of acting. Recalling an experience from Super Nani, he shares that Rekha and Randhir Kapoor once praised TV actors for their ability to consistently hit their marks, even with multiple retakes, due to the extensive workload they handle.
His journey with Rosesh has been a blessing and a challenge. While the character became widely loved, it also cast a long shadow over his career. He explains that Rosesh’s popularity actually soared three years after Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai went off-air. During that gap, he played leading roles in shows like Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale, Chintu Chinki Aur Ek Badi Si Love Story, and Pritam Pyare, so he did not feel burdened by Rosesh’s image then. However, the struggle began when he transitioned to OTT and films. He said, “especially as the reruns of Sarabhai during the pandemic brought my character back into the spotlight. Casting agents constantly associated me with Rosesh. That’s when I realised the character had overshadowed me as an actor.”
Determined to break free from the character’s image, he decided on a drastic transformation—going completely bald. This change, backed by director Akshat Sharma for the film Haddi, proved to be a turning point. He said, “It was a game-changer. That transformation broke Rosesh’s image.” He believes that altering his appearance helped the industry see him in a new light. Soon after, he bagged roles in Teri Baato Mei Aisa Uljha Jiya, Rautu Ka Raaz, and Yeh Meri Family alongside Juhi Parmar. He finds it fascinating that such a simple transformation unlocked new opportunities. He stated, “Today, after 25 years in the industry, I feel like I truly belong.”
Beyond acting, Rajesh ventured into farming in 2019, leasing 20 acres of land in Palghar. However, his journey was riddled with challenges. A series of natural calamities devastated his crops: floods destroyed his saplings, the Covid-19 lockdown ruined most of his yield, and a fire burned half of what remained. He then shifted to vegetable farming, but financial struggles escalated. With debts reaching ₹2 crore, missed EMIs, and relentless credit card calls, he was left with only ₹2,500 in his account. Faced with no choice, he returned to acting.
Looking back, he calls his farming experience a seven-year-long Master’s degree without a job. Though he lost all his savings, he values the lessons learned. He proudly said, “Yes, I faced setbacks, but I haven’t given up.” Interestingly, hosting the 2024 farming reality show Khet Khet Mein played a crucial role in helping him regain financial stability. He remains determined to return to farming, but this time, with a more strategic and informed approach. Rather than seeing it as a failure, he views it as a learning curve and is committed to making an impact in the field.