However, Rahul started preparing himself to become an actor. “After having conversations, I was preparing everything, from my speech to my diction to my language and English, I was working on everything. I came to Mumbai, struggled for a year and a half and the struggle was so much that at one point of time, my father said that now you are on yourself, so if you earn then only I will be able to give you choice to stay back otherwise, come back home. I told him that I am not coming back, I came here to prove myself. I love this job. I did not know this is going to be so difficult but I was prepared for it. I had it in my mind that whatever comes my way I will accept it with a smile,” he says. He adds, "I came to Mumbai in 2010 January and for nearly one and a half years I struggled. First three months were painful with no one to guide and the money sent from home was running out. I gave about 800 auditions in one and a half year. Average 4 to 5 auditions every day. I used to be shortlisted everywhere but was not getting the break. I started doing print shoot and used to get 50 Rs per shirt shoot. In 5000 per month I used to manage my expenses. At one time I had to go for audition and the fare was 20 Rs(Andheri to Bandra) Rs and I got tempted to eat ice cream but had to skip that time as money was needed. Now I have the luxury to eat one kg tub of ice-cream per week"
Furthermore he says, " I have studied in Hindi medium so I didn't know English till 21. In Mumbai only I started people hearing in English and was mocked at for not knowing English and was told without knowing English you can't work in entertainment industry go back and join father business of farming and spare parts business. It took 5 years to learn English without going to any classes. Now I even read English books and can confidently talk in English.
Things started moving gradually. “I got my first ad and I was happy that now there is something to show them. Everybody was very happy, I still remember how that ad changed my father’s perception. After that, when my show aired on TV and they saw me on TV, my father told me after 2-3 years that on that day he was very happy. He always criticised me a lot, gave me tough choices, never appreciated me much, never gave me that privileged that saying that yes you have achieved this, so I feel that whatever it is, he is there to make me feel grounded. He is there to protect me whenever there is anything coming on my way and harming me. He has challenged me so that I can prove,” he says. Rahul Sharma was last seen in Mitegi Laxman Rekha and previous shows include Kaal Bhairav and ek Ghar Banauga as main lead.
Image Source:Instagram/rahulsharma777