‘Had Rs 84 In My Account’: Dhurandhar Actor Gaurav Gera Recalls Financial Struggles After Moving To Mumbai

Actor Gaurav Gera has been receiving appreciation for his performance as Mohammad Aalam, also known as Aalam Bhai, in Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar. In the film, he portrays an undercover intelligence operative working in Karachi, who disguises himself as a juice vendor in Lyari to maintain his cover. While he has found massive success with his performance in this film, his journey hasn’t always been easy. In a recent conversation with Jist, the actor recalled the challenges he faced, revealing he had merely Rs 84 in his bank account after he moved to Mumbai.

Dhurandhar Actor Gaurav Gera Recalls Financial Struggles

Coming from a non-film background, he shared that no one in his family had any connection with cinema, and his interest in performing arts developed during his school days through

stage activities and creative competitions. He recalled that while he was academically average, he consistently excelled in art-related subjects, which made him feel more drawn toward creative expression. The actor also spoke about the early financial difficulties he faced after moving to Mumbai.

He described a phase where he had extremely limited resources but still continued to pursue work in the industry, often relying on persistence and optimism to keep going. He credited his father for supporting him within his means during those early years, noting that even small amounts sent from home carried significant meaning for him at the time. “Mere account mein Rs 84 the. Main HDFC Bank ke saamne se guzarta tha aur bank ko dekh kar kehta tha, ‘Mera khayal rakhna.’ Main aate-jaate bank ko mattha tek ke jaata tha. (I had just Rs 84 in my account. I would pass by a bank and jokingly ask it to take care of me),” he recalled.

Gaurav Gera On His Father’s Support

Recalling how his father supported him back then, Gaurav said, “Papa salaried person the. Unke letters abhi bhi mere paas hain jahan likha hota tha, ‘Rs 2,000 bhej raha hoon, isse zyada nahi hai.’ (My father was a salaried employee. I still have his letters where he would write that he was sending Rs 2,000, and that was all he could afford).”

Gaurav shared how those financial struggles did not deter him but instead strengthened his resolve. He spoke about walking long distances when he could not afford transport. “Us waqt lagta tha takleef nahi hai. Paise nahi hain auto ke, toh paidal aa jayenge. Main thoda khuddar type tha. Main dene wala banna chahta tha, lene wala nahi. (At that time, I didn’t feel the struggle. If I didn’t have money for an auto, I would walk. I wanted to be someone who gives, not takes),” he said.

When Gaurav Gera Shared The Letter He Once Wrote To His Parents

In March, Gaurav took to his Instagram to share a few handwritten letters he wrote to his parents over two decades ago. The letters from 1998 reveal his early struggles in Mumbai, after he moved from Delhi to pursue his acting dreams. Excerpts from the letters reveal Gaurav Gera’s early struggles and ambitions. “Dear Mumma and Papa, How are you guys? I’m really well over here. Nothing has materialized on the money front for me but I hope to do well soon. There’s a lot of work here compared to Delhi,” he wrote in one letter. He further added, “In the mornings, I meet various people for work and evenings have my rehearsals. The play is a musical “Man Of La Mancha.” It’s a very well-known musical and it’s a prestigious group to be associated with.”

“The place I stay in is a small cottage and will be easy on the pocket also. Thousand rupees if me and Rajesh share we can give 11 months’ rent in a go also. Other expenses include telephone, electricity, gas and water bills and food. Mumma and Papa, the future is bright but I still have a lot to learn. It does take time to know the right people, so please understand. I’ll be heavy on your pocket, but trust me, not for long,” he wrote.