Gaurav Khanna recalled his exhausting work routine in 2011, juggling multiple shows, often sleeping in his car, and missing out on a normal life. Financial and personal setbacks followed
Gaurav Khanna Akanksha Chamola
In a candid conversation with Mridul, Gaurav bared his soul about the hardships, relentless hustle, and setbacks that have shaped his journey.
He recalled how, back in 2011, his life was a blur of constant work: “I used to do a minimum of two shows at a time. There was a time when I once slept while driving a car. I never used to come home, I used to sleep in the car, and my driver would complain to my mom that ‘bhaiya is stretching too much.’”
Work consumed him so much that he missed out on living a normal life. “Main kahin ghooma nahi hoon, I’ve not even seen Mumbai properly. I used to work full day, hop from one set to another, get ready in the car itself — I was all over the place. From doing an action scene at one set to a rom-com scene two hours later at another, I was constantly on the move,” he revealed.
But the grind wasn’t his only challenge. Gaurav opened up about a series of personal and financial setbacks. “In 2014, I suffered a huge loss. A few friends betrayed me and took some money, and 60% of my money went into property losses. I was still a bachelor then. Then, in 2016, just eight days before my wedding, demonetisation happened. I never bought an expensive car at that time because I thought I would buy a house for my mom and dad instead,” he shared.
Through it all, he kept pushing himself. “After that, I started working double. I didn’t want to think; I worked nonstop. I don’t know where my 20 years went,” Gaurav said emotionally, admitting that when he now sits with younger housemates, he feels a generational gap. “When I sit with you guys, I feel like I don’t know a lot of Gen-Z versions.”
The revelation left the house silent, as Gaurav’s story painted a vivid picture of the sacrifices, betrayals, and relentless work ethic that have defined his life beyond the glitz of television.
He began by recounting his family background, saying his family once ran a huge shoe factory, and he grew up in a joint family. “I’ve seen everything in life from highs to lows,” he shared, recalling the extremes: “ In 2000, we literally had every car in the house — 11 cars in total. But by 2002, when everyone retired, there was nothing left. I knew I had to do more. ”
Gaurav revealed how these experiences shaped his perspective. “Even today, when I step into a shoe shop, I still think about prices. I’ll check multiple shops before deciding,” he explained, emphasising how early lessons in responsibility and prudence stayed with him.
Shifting to his career, he reflected on the harsh realities of the acting industry. “ Acting is an industry where you can become famous overnight if a show works. If you’re good, more opportunities come your way. But if you’re not, then all you’ll ever talk about is that one successful show in your life, ” he said, highlighting the fickleness and competitiveness of showbiz.
Through his words, Gaurav offered a glimpse into the perseverance, awareness, and resilience that have defined his journey — from family highs and lows to navigating the unforgiving entertainment industry.
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