I'd walk to auditions since I didn’t have money for bus fares, says The Kashmir Files actor Darshan Kumaar

Bollywood actor Darshan Kumaar, who made his acting debut in 2001 with the film Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, is riding high on the success of his recently released Vivek Agnihotri directorial - The Kashmir Files. The actor who also appeared in a supporting role in Salman Khan's Tere Naam in 2003, went on to play Mary Kom's husband Onler in the biopic that starrer Priyanka Chopra. 

However, he found unprecedented success in the character of Krishna Pandit, with the phenomenal performance of The Kashmir Files at the box office. The actor opened up about his early days of struggle in the film industry while speaking with Siddharth Kannan. He mentioned that it has been a roller coaster ride for him and that he gets emotional thinking about it as it was tough for him right from the start. 

Darshan shared that they had to travel to far off places in Mumbai to give auditions and there was one time when they had to go in formal clothes. He couldn't afford good quality shoes so he bought a pair worth about Rs 200-300 and used to wear that for quite some time. 

"I would walk to auditions since I didn’t use to have money for bus fares. I would walk and use the bus fare to buy a packet of Parle G. If I find a cup of tea then okay, but otherwise I would have the biscuits with water because I had to survive the entire day," said the actor. 

Darshan recollected that his shoes broke down on his way back after the auditions that night and he had to walk barefoot for five to six kilometres. He remembered limping on his way back as he couldn't walk and didn't find any cobbler nearby to mend his shoes either. 

The Sarbjit actor also mentioned that there were times when he had to go to sleep on an empty stomach as he couldn't afford to eat outside. He revealed that even though he got some recognition after the relase of Mary Kom, finding good work and not be typecast always remained a struggle for him.