Bigg Boss 17 fame Abhishek Kumar’s birthday special: Reflecting back on his journey to fame

Dream profession
Abhishek Kumar is a talented actor. He has seen quite some struggle in his career in his early life. Despite pressure to join the Indian Air Force like many relatives, Abhishek chose to pursue his dream of becoming an actor.

Crowd artist
In a podcast, Kumar recounted his humble start as a crowd artist, an uncredited background actor. He worked in films like Udta Punjab and Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, but his face remained largely unnoticed.

Low-budget living
To save money in the initial stages of his career, he would skip breakfast and often walk to his auditions. He would intentionally sleep late to skip breakfast and survive on an inexpensive meal of chana masala and rotis for lunch and dinner.

Casting couch
His early career also included a harrowing encounter with the casting couch. An individual made inappropriate advances, telling him he would have to compromise to get ahead. Traumatized and scared, Kumar immediately booked a general compartment train ticket and returned home to Punjab in tears. He confided in his mother, who supported his decision to leave.

Breakthrough
The incident left him so shaken that he gave up on his acting aspirations for a time. He took a job back home that paid him only Rs 7,000 per month. After a period of healing, Kumar decided to give his dream another chance. He returned to Mumbai and eventually found success, most notably on the TV show Udaariyaan. He gained recognition with his role as Amrik Singh Virk through the show.

Bigg Boss 17 entry
Abhishek entered the reality show with a reputation for a difficult past relationship with fellow contestant Isha Malviya, which became a central storyline. His experiences shaped his character on the show, where he displayed a resilience that resonated with viewers, who recognized how far he had come.

Faced bullying
Inside the house, Abhishek was often bullied by other contestants, which showcased his resilience and determination. His journey resonated with viewers and earned him a dedicated following known as the Abhishek Avengers.

A finalist
His journey was defined by his unfiltered emotions. He cried, got angry, and displayed his vulnerabilities openly, which resonated with many viewers who saw him as genuine. Following his re-entry, Abhishek came back with a stronger spirit. He continued to play the game with renewed focus and determination, which ultimately secured his position as a finalist.

Parents' concern
Abhishek Kumar revealed his father became quite scared about his son's well-being after Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide in 2020. Kumar's father became anxious about his son's mental state due to the pressures of the entertainment industry. The family became more protective of Kumar. His father still gets anxious even if he is clearing his throat and would rush to Mumbai to check on him, fearing a similar outcome.

Post Bigg Boss
After the show, he reflected on his Bigg Boss journey, acknowledging his mistakes while recognizing that people saw his positive qualities as well.