From Aashiqui to Wedding Dance Floors: Rahul Roy’s Unusual Comeback

When Rahul Roy burst onto the screen with the soulful ballads of Aashiqui in 1990, few could have imagined the path his life would later take. Fast forward three decades, the actor, now 60, finds himself swapping film sets for wedding stages, twirling to folk beats in exchange for a much‑needed paycheck.

In a candid interview with The Times of India, Roy opened up about the financial crunch that followed a massive brain stroke he suffered in 2020. “Getting any work after the stroke was like pulling teeth,” he confessed, “so I started doing whatever I could to keep the lights on.”

The answer, he says, has often been a pair of dancing shoes. “I’ve been paid anywhere between ₹2 lakh and ₹4 lakh for a single wedding performance,” he explained, a sum that, while modest by Bollywood standards, has become a lifeline.

Online trolls have not been kind, poking fun at the former heart‑throb for what they deem a step down. Roy, however, brushes off the criticism with a weary smile. “Those who mock don’t see the grind behind it,” he said. “I have bills, medical expenses, and a legal tussle with my brother that’s cost me about ₹30 lakh.”

The legal battle, coupled with a costly divorce that forced him to transfer assets to his ex‑wife, left his finances in tatters. “It’s not just vanity,” he stressed, “it’s about feeding a family and paying off debts.”

Yet the dance floor isn’t just a desperate gig—it’s also a surprising source of joy. “People love it, they laugh, they celebrate,” Roy notes, “and for a moment I feel the same buzz I got on a movie set.”

After a five‑year hiatus that felt more like a forced sabbatical, the actor is finally seeing a flicker of his old career returning. He’s been offered small roles and is hopeful about larger projects on the horizon. “I’m grateful to the directors who are willing to give me a chance again,” he said, his voice tinged with both relief and anticipation.

Looking back, Roy acknowledges the irony of his journey. “From being the face of a romantic hit to dancing at weddings—life’s unpredictable,” he mused. “But if it means I can rebuild, I’ll keep moving forward, one step at a time.”