Mimtaz
The Covid-19 pandemic has completely turned the world topsy turvy.
Bollywood Badshah SRK’s lookalike Raju Rahikwar opens up on his struggle story due to the pandemic.
Before the coronavirus hit the world, Raju had performed at several corporate shows as Shah Rukh Khan.
Did you know that Raju even played SRK’s body double in one of his commercials?
Recently, while talking to Pinkvilla, SRK’s lookalike Raju Rahikwar talked about how he went out of work and was struggling for money during the lockdown.
“What I presently do is lookup for phone numbers of event managers on Google, and then I message them inquiring about possible shows. In fact, a few months ago I had even tweeted to Sonu Sood saab stating that I have too many liabilities and that I am in need of work. Thode din pehle light kaatne bhi aaye the, ab main kya bataun aapko. Honestly, I don’t want money from anyone, I just need work,” he revealed.
Raju further shared his miserable condition when he was stuck at home for 56 days.
“In October I was supposed to fly to the US for a show, but couldn’t do so because of the travel restrictions. Thankfully, one of my friends Rajesh Mallaya, who supplies shoot equipments, came to my rescue. Since no films were being shot during the lockdown, he started selling masks and gloves during that period and asked me to join him,” he added.
“I don’t have any business sense but I am good at marketing. So, I started making videos with these masks and gloves and posted them on several WhatsApp groups. I even put up a stall in my building compound to take orders from there. That’s how my income started again after being stuck at home for two months,” says Raju.
He even went to Dubai, along with his friend Mallaya, to sell shoot equipments.
“So, I went there for 35 days and started selling his lights and other materials from one shop to another. I remember in Dubai I saw a jacket worth 15 dirhams and a laptop bag worth 45 dirhams. I wanted to buy them for my children, so I cut down on my daily meal expense so that I could bring those presents for my kids,” further continuing, he shared that Salman Khan also offered him monetary help.
He also revealed that in the early days of the lockdown, he received monetary help from Akshay Kumar and CINTAA (Cine & TV Artists Association).
“We even received Rs. 3,000 from Akshay Kumar that was given to us via CINTAA. CINTAA had given more Rs. 4,500 in cash and a grocery voucher worth Rs. 1,500 to all its members. Back then some of my lookalike artists were really struggling to make ends meet, so I gave this money to them. Now all I hope for is regular work to start so that I can get back on track,” he concluded.
