Rajesh Kumar: The lead role era is over for me on TV

Rajesh Kumar, fondly remembered as Rosesh Sarabhai from Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai, has stepped away from television for now, He shares, “TV demands longer commitments, and frankly, the era of playing lead roles in the medium is behind me. TV primarily focusses on younger couples and at this stage, I fit into the ‘chacha’ or ‘mama’ category, which doesn’t excite me anymore. That said, I deeply respect the medium. Television is the best place to hone your skills and understand the technicalities of acting. I remember during Super Nani, Rekhaji and Randhir Kapoor ji remarked how TV actors rarely miss their marks, even with multiple retakes, because of the sheer volume of work they do.”
‘Breaking free from Rosesh’s shadow required a personality revamp’
Popular characters can sometimes be a double-edged sword, and Rajesh knows this all too well. His portrayal of Rosesh in....has been a huge favourite. He says, “Ironically, Rosesh became popular three years after Sarabhai went off air. In the interim, I did lead roles in shows like Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale, Chintu Chinki Aur Ek Badi Si Love Story, and Pritam Pyare, so I didn’t feel the baggage back then. I actually felt the burden when I wanted to transition into OTT and films, 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.”
To reinvent himself, he took a ‘bald’ step, literally! He shares, “To shatter that image, I needed to transform completely. That’s why I went bald for Haddi, with full support from my director, Akshat Sharma. It was a game-changer. That transformation broke Rosesh’s image, and soon after, I landed projects like Teri Baato Mei Aisa Uljha Jiya, Rautu Ka Raaz, and Yeh Meri Family with Juhi Parmar. It’s amazing how such a small change opened up a world of opportunities. Today, after 25 years in the industry, I feel like I truly belong.”

‘I will return to farming but with a wiser approach’
For those unaware, Rajesh ventured into farming in 2019, by leasing 20 acres of land in Palghar. Unfortunately, he faced one calamity after another — floods wiped out saplings, the Covid-19 lockdown ruined 75 per cent of his crops, and a fire destroyed half of his produce. He then shifted to vegetable farming. However, the challenges mounted. With debts of ₹2 crore, bouncing EMIs, and relentless credit card collectors, he had just ₹2,500 left in his account. Forced to return to acting, Rajesh reflects, “I devoted seven years to farming — my Master’s degree without a job! I lost all my savings, but the experience was invaluable. Yes, I faced setbacks, but I haven’t given up. Interestingly, it was the farming reality show Khet Khet Mein in 2024 that I hosted that helped me recover financially. I will return to farming with a wiser approach. It’s not a case of once bitten, twice shy. I remain deeply committed to making a difference.”