Our Editor-in-Chief, Kamiya Jani, met the two legendary actors, Paresh Rawal and Shatrughan Sinha, for an insightful Sunday Brunch. The trio gathered at Shatrughan Ji’s iconic home, Ramayan, in Mumbai. Over some chakna and chai, the actors opened up about their early struggles in the film industry, their careers, love stories, and more. Paresh Ji has appeared in many films and has given us some of the best Bollywood comedies. We still can’t resist watching his films like Bhool Bhulaiyaa and De Dana Dan whenever they’re on TV. While talking about their acting journeys and how they got started, we learnt about Paresh Ji’s first paycheck. Read on to know more about it.
All About Paresh Rawal’s First Paycheck
Every Bollywood actor has their own journey filled with struggles and compromises, and for Paresh Rawal, it was the same. He began in theatre, performing skits and dramas, and from there, he gradually made his way into Bollywood. Today, he has established himself as one of the most legendary actors. Be it comedy, mystery, or drama, he fits into every role with ease. Whether it’s his iconic dialogue ‘Ye Babu Rao ka style hai’ from Hera Pheri or his powerful performance in Oh My God, his characters remain truly unforgettable.
When Kamiya asked about his first paycheck amount, he replied, “Paanch rupay mile the mujhe drama mein kaam karne ke liye, and I was 15 years old.” When asked if he had decided to become an actor at the age of 15, he replied jokingly, “Sochna tha nahi yahi aata tha. Nahi sochta toh bhi yahi kar sakta tha, aur kuch kar nahi sakta tha.” He won many trophies during his college days for performing skits, which shows that his passion for acting has always been there.
He Skipped Lectures For Rehearsals
Paresh Rawal shared an incident from his college days when he got beaten up for not attending lectures regularly and was asked to bring his parents. Just like any other mischievous kid, he asked an older friend from his area to pretend to be his father. The principal complained that he skipped lectures, smoked, and spent most of his time in rehearsals or the canteen.
Out of nowhere, his friend created an unexpected drama by slapping him inside the principal’s office! The principal was shocked and quickly stopped him, saying, “Maro mat, maro mat. Bohot acha ladka hai, hamare liye trophy wagera leke aata hai.” That day, it was his passion for acting that spared him from getting into any trouble.
Want to know what other fun conversations we had with the duo? Watch the full episode.
Cover Image Courtesy: Internal