Sunil Grover recalls blowing off his savings in first year in Mumbai: ‘From a sea-facing Juhu flat, I had to move to…’

“It was a beautiful place and thinking that I might soon get busy with work, I only partied and had fun. I intentionally did not pick up work and was in a relaxed mood. I did have fun and then after a year, I blew off all my savings. I had to move to a small one-room flat in Goregaon east, in a cheaper society. Fir jaa ke aate dal ke bhav pata chali hai (That’s when I realised how difficult it was to survive in Mumbai),” he said.

The actor said that he wouldn’t call some of the work he picked ‘stupid’ as that was the reality for him. However, he went on to share a rather funny story about his struggle. Sharing that he was working as a dubbing artist and was paid Rs 750 for the same. The place was far from from his house and he would switch two buses to reach there. “They used to pay us weekly, so I had to follow up for the cheques. There would be times when they would ask us to come later. I would then get my cheques and go to the bank the next day in Lokhandwala. Once I sat down and calculated my conveyance and realised I was paying Rs 900 for the trips. It was way more than I was paid,” he laughed. “Parties sasti padhti thi, so maine job chhod di (Partying was cheaper, so I quit that job).”

Talking about the success that came after, Sunil Grover said that everything just ‘faded in’. Calling it a slow process, the actor said, “Realise hi nahi hua (It never dawned). I think there was never a sense of achievement as it was all very organic and slow. It’s almost like seeing your child every day and not realising how big they are growing. Also, you get busier with work, so the success never hit.”

The actor also discussed United Kachche, a show that he says is quite “pyaara” and “slice of life”. He also shared how given he comes from Punjab, he has seen people’s craze about moving to a foreign land.

“You stand on the street and people are either talking about sports, politics, or ‘bahar jaana hai (have to go abroad)’. I have grown up in that same culture. I actually have questioned myself why people want to move away from their homeland, given we too are doing so well, in all sectors. I really think it’s the bandwagon effect. When they see someone come home in a suit, boasting about their life, others too want to experience the same. Even though they have no clue about the struggles one will face. In a way, it’s also inspiring as many have made a living for themselves,” shared the Tandav actor.

Sunil Grover also recalled how it was a fun experience shooting in London. He mentioned how there were more Indians around than Britishers, making him feel like he was in ‘Jalandhar’. The actor added that he got to eat home food and that it definitely made a memorable time for him.