Yaadein actor Kanwalpreet Singh reveals he could not afford rent in Mumbai during career break

Kanwalpreet Singh (Instagram)

Actor Kanwalpreet Singh is finally back on television after a long gap, but behind the comeback lies a difficult phase marked by financial instability, limited opportunities, and the harsh realities of surviving in Mumbai as an actor.

Known for his work in Channa Mereya, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Rabb Se Sona Ishq and Naadan Parindey, Kanwalpreet recently made his return with Ghum Hui Yaadein. While audiences saw him back on screen, the actor reveals that the years away from television were emotionally and financially draining.

Kanwalpreet Singh talks about his struggles

Opening up about that period, Kanwalpreet candidly admits, "There was a point where I was not able to pay rent in Mumbai. Survival here is expensive, and when work slows down, reality hits very hard."

The actor shares that inconsistent work and underpaid projects eventually pushed him to move back to his hometown for some time. "I had to take a practical decision. Staying in Mumbai without stable income becomes difficult after a point. So I moved back home for a while to manage things better financially," he says.

Kanwalpreet also spoke about the current state of television and how shrinking budgets are affecting actors today. "You have to earn to survive here. A lot of projects now come with very small paychecks, and honestly, it doesn't justify the cost of living in Mumbai anymore," he explains.

On returning with Yaadein

Instead of taking up every offer that came his way, the actor says he chose to wait for roles that were creatively satisfying and financially worthwhile. "I was getting work, but I didn't want to keep doing roles that had no depth or projects with extremely low budgets. I wanted to wait for good opportunities with meaty characters," he adds.

The actor believes many artists are silently facing similar struggles in the industry today. "People think actors are constantly working and earning, but there's a long gap between perception and reality. A lot of us go through uncertainty, rejection, and financial pressure quietly," he says.

Despite the difficult phase, Kanwalpreet says he never lost faith in acting. "The struggle definitely changes you, but it also teaches you patience. I knew I had to keep going till the right project came along," he concludes.