Poverty forced Rajiv Thakur to share 50-gram Amul butter with siblings, but he won’t settle for anything less than hotel suite and business class seat now

Comedian Rajiv Thakur shared how Kapil Sharma used to make fun of him for not being well-travelled.

New Delhi | Updated: March 29, 2025 02:06 PM IST

Kapil Sharma and Rajiv Thakur on the Kapil Sharma Show.

The Kapil Sharma Show has emerged as a cornerstone of Indian television. Comedian Rajiv Thakur, who has been part of the show’s various iterations since 2016, shared how his life changed post-success, and how he refuses to compromise on luxuries now. He talked about his relationship with Kapil, and recalled how tight money was when he was growing up in Amritsar.

In an appearance on the Dostcast podcast, he said that he’d never travelled abroad until he was well into his professional life. “In the same year I went to America, Australia, Canada and the UK, and it was my first time going to any of these places. Kapil said that I didn’t fly abroad for shows all those years, but this time I was travelling four times a month,” he said.

He recalled his childhood struggles, and said that he doesn’t compromise on luxuries at this stage in his career, even if it means turning down money. “I have always been fond of Amul butter, and every Sunday we would get one 50 gm packet, and I used to share that with my brother and sister. Because I have seen those difficult times, and because now I am in a better position, I always have butter.” He said that he made ends meet by working in his father’s shop, and teaching theatre in colleges.

He continued, “If I perform for a friend, I can do the show for free or take a pay cut, but I won’t compromise on a business class ticket and suite to stay in. That experience is more valuable to me than money. I love going to the business lounge; it has its own charm,” said the comedian. “We used to see characters in film who were successful, the way they would conduct themselves, the way they would sit and the way they would order something for themselves. I don’t want money; I want that feeling.”

Explaining his relationship with money, he said, “We were taught from the beginning by our parents that money is earned by working hard and it should be saved, and while now the narrative is completely different and people tell you to spend more to earn more, everyone has their own formula to life.” He added that he loves luxurious experiences, but only when they are paid for by others. Otherwise, he spends only on his family and rarely on himself.

After working in the original iteration of the Kapil Sharma Show, Thakur has remained part of the team after the show was revamped for Netflix in 2024.

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