New Delhi, Oct 29 (NationPress) Actor Harshvardhan Rane, currently enjoying the acclaim from his latest film “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat”, opened up about his past hardships, recalling a time when he earned merely Rs 10 a day along with a plate of chole chawal for sustenance.

The actor reflected on his journey, highlighting how he transitioned from delivering a parcel to John Abraham to now receiving star backing for his recent project.

“After leaving home… I’ve shared this story numerous times. But after running away, the first necessity is food. For that, you need money. To earn money, you must find a job. So, it wasn’t straightforward,” Harshvardhan told IANS.

He shared that he undertook various odd jobs before breaking into the Hindi film industry.

“Initially, I struggled to find work. The simplest job available was as a waiter. No qualifications were needed; you merely had to serve tables. That began with a salary of Rs 10 per day and a plate of chole rice.

The actor also recalled his time maintaining a register in a cyber café.

“My handwriting is neat, so I quickly secured those jobs. In the STD booth and cyber café, I earned around ₹10–20 daily. This was back in 2002.

By 2004, he was working as a delivery person.

“I was given a task to deliver a helmet from a bike showroom to a hotel. Upon arrival, I discovered it was for Mr. John Abraham. His manager asked me to wait. I worried, ‘I hope I won’t get into trouble or be scolded.’”

Harshvardhan remembered how John personally thanked him in the lobby.

“John came down during the time of Garam Masala—his peak days with Dhoom and Garam Masala. I was nervous and sweaty, but with that unease, I handed him the helmet. He paused to express gratitude.”

“That day sparked a change within me. I realized, ‘This star can thank a delivery boy.’ It was a brief lesson in humanity. That’s how I met him.

Years later, Harshvardhan starred in a film produced by John.

“Two years ago, I worked on a film where he was the producer and I played the lead. Even now, he tells me, ‘Harsh, stop calling me sir.’”

Though 20 years have passed, Harshvardhan still perceives John with the same admiration, thinking, ‘I still remember that helmet, and John Abraham is right here before me.’

“I’m immensely thankful for these 20 years that God has shown me. My respect for him grows with each passing year. The more I encounter industry figures, like Sonam, the more I realize what a genuine soul he is. I’m becoming a bigger fan every year. I thought by now I’d be accustomed to him being a good person, but he continues to amaze me with his authentic thought process.”