Gaurav Gera is currently basking in the success of Dhurandhar, where his portrayal of Indian spy Aalam won widespread appreciation from audiences and critics alike. In a recent conversation with Jist, the actor opened up about his unconventional path into acting and the difficult early days he faced after moving to Mumbai with just ₹84 in his bank account.
Reflecting on his younger years, Gera shared that academics never interested him much and that he was more inclined toward arts and crafts during school. He had initially hoped to join the College of Arts but could not secure admission. Later, he enrolled at Pearl Academy of Fashion to study fashion, though the course never truly connected with him. Despite wanting to quit midway, his father encouraged him to finish the programme and work for at least six months before making any major decisions. After completing that phase, Gaurav finally chose to follow his passion for theatre.
The actor then revisited the harsh realities of his struggling phase in Mumbai. “At that time, I only had ₹84 in my account. Whenever I crossed an HDFC Bank branch, I would look at it and say, ‘Please take care of me.’ I would almost bow my head while passing the bank. My father was a salaried employee and I still have his letters where he used to write, ‘I am sending ₹2,000. I do not have more than this,’” he recalled emotionally.
Gera added that he was around 24 years old then and never felt comfortable asking others for financial help. He said he always believed in becoming the kind of person who could support others financially instead of depending on someone else for money.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar is a two-part spy action saga featuring Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Rakesh Bedi and Sara Arjun in pivotal roles. The first film reportedly crossed ₹1,300 crore globally, while its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, performed even better with worldwide collections surpassing ₹1,800 crore.
Before finding fame in films and digital content, Gaurav Gera became a familiar face on television through shows such as Ssshhhh…Koi Hai and Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, where his character Nandu became hugely popular. He later appeared in films including Kyun…! Ho Gaya Na, The Shaukeens and Neal ‘n’ Nikki. In recent years, he reinvented himself online with viral comedy personas such as Chutki, Shopkeeper, Billi Maasi and Pammi Aunty, turning into one of India’s most recognisable digital entertainers.
