Funny man Kapil Sharma, who is now the most popular and loved face on Indian television, never had it easy. You’ll be surprised to know about his struggles, that are so well hidden behind his comedy acts. Here are some lesser known facts about the birthday boy who turns 35 today.
First Love: Singing
We all know that not only is Kapil a great comedian, but an even better singer! He’s always maintained that music has been his first love. He even worked in a cloth printing mill for two months after giving his class X final exams, just so that he could earn some money to buy a music system. Wow, talk of humble beginnings and true passion.
Odd Jobs
Kapil made his first appearance on Indian television with a Punjabi comedy show titled Hasde Hasande Ravo. But he had his share of struggles even there. From working in a cloth mill, to running a PCO booth and even gathering soft drink crates, no job was too small for Kapil. But the king of comedy has managed to turn his life around keeping his good humour intact.
Rejected During the Audition, But Won the ‘Laughter Challenge’
You might not believe this one, but it is true. When Kapil Sharma took an audition hoping to be selected for The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, all he got was rejection. But he didn’t give up. He tried his luck over and over again, the second time at the Delhi auditions. And guess what? Not only did he get selected, but Kapil also ended up winning the show! He won Rs 10 Lac as prize money and he used it all towards his sister’s wedding. Kapil fondly remembers it as being the most lavish wedding ever that his family had seen.
Kapil Shares a Special Bond With Cops
Most of Kapil Sharma’s family members happen to be serving in the Police force. His father Jeetendra Kumar served in Punjab Police, and his elder brother Ashok Sharma followed suit. In fact, Kapil’s brother was also a part of the police team that dealt with the recent Pathankot attack. No wonder Kapil loves to play the funny cop on stage.
Kapil Sharma is the 27th Most Popular Celeb in India
Kapil Sharma has featured on The Forbes India Celebrity 100 list not once, but four times already. Forbes’ prestigious top 100 celebs list boasts of film and sports stars, authors and industrialists, etc. Kapil Sharma happens to be the only TV personality to have made it to the list. Now that’s something! Grabbing the 27th spot in 2015, his take home salary was around Rs 15 Crore, which was more than the likes of Arjun Kapoor, Suresh Raina, Sania Mirza and Sonakshi Sinha. Kapil ranks at 27 on the ‘fame’ list while he’s got the 51st spot on the ‘money’ list.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)