Vijay Raaz’s acting career spans nearly 30 years, with a digital debut in 2019. He discovered theatre accidentally at 19 while studying and working odd jobs. Despite academic struggles and family expectations for a government job, he pursued acting, gaining acclaim in web series and the latest season of Jamnaapar.
Vijay Raaz has built an impressive career in the entertainment industry spanning nearly thirty years. He expanded his presence into the digital realm starting in 2019, earning acclaim for his roles in web series such as ‘Made In Heaven’, ‘Sherni’, ‘Murder In Mahim’ and ‘Showtime’. Currently, he holds a pivotal role in the second season of Jamnaapar. In a recent interview promoting the show, Vijay opened up about how acting was never his initial ambition, recounting his early days filled with various odd jobs and the setback of failing his final exams.Accidental introduction to theatreIn an interview with SCREEN, Vijay recalled that he was only 19 when he first discovered theatre and began to experiment with it. He said that for him, it was very accidental; he never planned to enter this profession. Life was moving along as he worked a job as an accountant and attended evening college. One day, he met some people involved in theatre and heard the term for the first time. That moment at 19 marked the beginning of his journey. Initially, his family thought he was simply busy and were glad he was doing something productive. However, when they realized that acting was going to be his permanent career, it posed a problem. His father, a government servant, lived in a time when government jobs were considered the most respectable; even being appointed as a peon meant lifelong security under the government. This mindset was fixed in that generation, so his father expected him to follow the same path. Despite it all being accidental, Vijay felt the universe was pushing him towards acting.College struggle and lost focus on studiesRecalling a college incident, Vijay revealed that he began doing theatre in his second year of BCom, which led to a loss of interest in his studies. During his final year, he faced an economics exam but was so consumed by his love for theatre that when he received the paper, he found himself unable to write anything and remained blank. He sat quietly, asked the teacher to take back the paper, but was asked to wait for at least 30 minutes. Eventually, he wrote only his name on the paper. He believed the teacher would appreciate his honesty, but unfortunately, he failed. He also mentioned that he had failed in his first two years as well and was taking those exams simultaneously.Early earnings and odd jobsThe actor shared that he began earning money at the age of 18 while working with a chartered accountant, a job his father had arranged for him, where he learned accounting. This became his profession, and he subsequently worked at various places. His last job was a part-time position at a saree shop in Karol Bagh. Vijay revealed that he has done numerous odd jobs throughout his early years. He noted that while today people consider 17-year-olds as kids, in his time, working started as early as 15. His co-star Varun Badola also reminisced about selling carpets at Lajpat Nagar.
