Rajiv Thakur says 'even YRF's backing couldn't make Uday Chopra a star'

Rajiv Thakur says 'even YRF's backing couldn't make Uday Chopra a star'

Comedian Rajiv Thakur, known for his appearances on The Kapil Sharma Show, has sparked a conversation with his candid remarks about success and privilege in the entertainment industry. In a recent interview with Hindi Rush, Rajv Thakur used Uday Chopra’s career as an example to emphasise that no amount of backing or connections can guarantee stardom.

Rajiv opened up about his humble beginnings and the importance of self-belief.

“I have always charted my own path in life, even back in Amritsar. When the auditions for The Great Indian Laughter Challenge opened up, I was the one who filled in Chandan (Prabhakar’s) application. He didn’t want to do it, but I insisted that all us friends would do it together. Even today, if I get the chance to put the spotlight on one of my friends, I take it, but only those whose talent I believe in,” he said.

Reflecting on his long association with Kapil Sharma, Rajiv Thakur admitted the journey wasn’t easy.

“Kapil can take me along once or twice, but if the channel doesn’t want me, then that’s that. It took me eight years just to become a permanent member of his cast,” he said. “Nobody on this planet can do something for an untalented person. Look at Uday Chopra, for example. What did Yash Chopra not have? He had money, the resources, the studio, the directors… But Uday bhai’s career as an actor wasn’t meant to happen. It’s not that he didn’t have the talent, but he had a talent for something else.”

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Thakur further explained that success in showbiz is ultimately in the audience’s hands.

“People often overlook that not everyone from a privileged background becomes successful. Take my own family, for example. My brother, Uday, is an actor, but he hasn’t had a very successful career. He’s the son of one of the biggest filmmakers and the brother of another. Even with YRF, a company known for launching numerous newcomers, we couldn’t turn him into a star. Why? Because the ultimate decision lies with the audience—they choose whom they like and whom they want to see. No one else can make that decision for them.”