"Wanna thank my 23-year-old self": Gaurav Gera revisits 1998 letter, reflects on early struggles amid 'Dhurandhar' success
Mumbai, March 23
Actor Gaurav Gera, who plays Mohammad Aalam in 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge,' has been receiving widespread praise for his performance in the film.
As the spy-thriller continues to do well at the box office, the actor recently shared a very personal moment from his early days in Mumbai.
On Sunday, Gaurav took to his Instagram account to post pictures of a handwritten letter he had written to his parents back in 1998, soon after he moved from Delhi to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting. In his post, Gaurav reflected on his 28-year journey and how much has changed over time.
Through the letter, Gaurav shared details about his simple life back then. In the letter, he spoke about living in a small cottage with a friend to manage expenses and learning to survive in a new city. Talking about his hopes at the time, he had written, "Other expenses include telephone, electricity, gas, and water bills, and food. Mumma and Papa, the future is bright, but I still have a lot to learn," demonstrating his patience and belief in his dreams.
He also wrote a caption that read: "This letter to my parents - 3rd Dec 1998 ... less than a month after I moved to Mumbai ... this was 28 years ago ... so no emails, letters ... of course, after that, lots of TV, some films, ad films, musical plays, radio, TikTok, Reels ... it's been a lovely journey with ups and downs ... God has been kind ... but this Dhurandhar ... dunno what the future holds ... but I want to thank my 23-year-old self for staying hopeful and Ma Pa for endless support #DhurandharTheRevenge."
'Dhurandhar: The Revenge,' directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, released on March 19 and continues to perform strongly at the box office.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Respect for sharing this. In 1998, no mobile phones, just letters to stay connected with family. His parents must be so proud today. It shows success doesn't come overnight. #HardWorkPaysOff
Honestly, I found his performance in Dhurandhar a bit over-the-top. The film is good, but his acting felt forced in some scenes. That said, his real-life story is genuinely moving. More power to him for the struggle.
The part about managing expenses in a new city hits home! So many young people from smaller towns experience this. Sharing such personal moments makes celebrities so relatable. Good for him.
From TV shows like "Shaktimaan" to now a big film, his journey is a proper Bollywood script! 🎬 It's nice to see actors acknowledging their roots and not forgetting where they came from. More actors should do this.
"God has been kind" – that line says everything. In our culture, we always remember the divine and our parents' blessings when we achieve something. Beautiful sentiment. All the best for Dhurandhar's continued success!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.