Actor Gajraj Rao recently opened up about his challenging journey in Bollywood, revealing instances of being underpaid and disrespected by executives and assistants during his early years. Reflecting on his experiences, he noted that those in positions of power often took advantage of young artists like himself.
Gajraj Rao Recalls Being Exploited In Bollywood
While Gajraj gained widespread recognition for his role in Badhaai Ho, his cinematic journey began much earlier with Bandit Queen. In a conversation with Maniesh Paul, he discussed the prevalent misbehaviour within the industry. He said,“In a crowd, those who misbehave often don’t even realize why they’re acting that way. And who tends to be disrespectful? Usually, it’s the uneducated, the insecure, or those lacking confidence in their abilities. Most often, it was production assistants or executives who exhibited rudeness.”
He recounted an incident that underscored the lack of professionalism in the industry. “They would promise a specific payment but often shortchange you. There was a time I was contracted for an ad film at Rs 20,000 per day for two days. After completing the first day, they handed me a cheque for Rs 20,000 and told me I wasn’t needed anymore. When I pointed out that my contract was for two days, they simply dismissed it by saying my portions were wrapped up in one. What they didn’t consider was that I had turned down another job to take this one.”
Gajraj Rao Remaind Determined Towards Work
Despite facing numerous setbacks, Gajraj Rao remained undeterred in the film industry. In an interview with Indian Express, he discussed his perspective on success: “I was never disheartened about not landing lead roles. I never dreamed of achieving overnight fame. I firmly believe in the old Sanskrit saying, ‘Karmanyevadhikaraste, ma phaleshu kadachana’—focus on your actions without worrying about the results. And, I committed myself to every small role and kept my interests alive by directing ad films. Dwelling on what you lack only makes life seem bleak. My approach has always been to celebrate what I have while striving for more.”
Now an accomplished actor, he stands firm on his fees, acknowledging the struggles that have led him to this point. Speaking on Varun Duggi’s podcast, he recalled a casting director’s request to reduce his fees for a 20-day project. “I told him I wasn’t charging for just those 20 days—I was working for free. My fees reflect the years of hardship that brought me here. Those days I survived on 20 cups of chai, went hungry, endured mistreatment, and even walked from Town to Andheri because I couldn’t afford transportation? Those 20 days? They’re free.”
Gajraj shared that executives and production assistants were frequently the main offenders, underpaying him or treating him with disrespect. Nevertheless, he chose to learn from these experiences and moved forward with a sense of forgiveness, especially since he knew he hadn’t done anything wrong.
