‘Ghajini’ Fame Vipin Sharma Recalls His Days of Struggle: “Even as a Vegetarian, I Had to Work in a Non-Veg Restaurant; I Didn’t Even Have Enough Money for a Train Ticket”

Vipin Sharma, best known for his role in Ghajini and his work in Aamir Khan’s film Taare Zameen Par, recently shared memories of his challenging early days. Despite being a vegetarian, he revealed that he once had to work in a non-vegetarian restaurant, where his job involved cutting meat just to earn a living.

Leaving Acting and Moving to Canada

In a recent interview with The Lallantop, Vipin Sharma spoke candidly about a period in his life when he was ready to leave acting behind. During his time in Canada, he attended an acting workshop that dramatically changed his perspective. Reflecting on that experience, he said, “After attending the workshop, I realized that there is nothing else for me but acting. I felt I couldn’t succeed at anything else. I ended up discarding all my belongings on the streets of Toronto and bought a ticket to return to India.”

“I Was Very Stubborn”

Recalling his time in Canada, Vipin added, “I was never satisfied with anything and often got into arguments. I strongly opposed bribery, especially when it came to reserving a train seat. I couldn’t stand the atmosphere around me, and my anger was fueled by the injustice I saw in society—especially as someone who grew up in a slum.”
He also recounted a dramatic incident where he pulled the emergency chain on a train, resulting in him being dropped off at a station at night. “They told me that if I couldn’t pay ₹10 for a sleeper berth, I wasn’t entitled to travel by train,” he explained.

Working in a Non-Veg Restaurant Despite Being Vegetarian

During his struggle to make ends meet, Vipin took on various jobs at different restaurants. Recalling one such job at an Irish restaurant, he said, “I’m a vegetarian, yet my role required me to cut and clean meat. I had virtually no money, and this was the only job available to me. While I was working, I even prayed to God, asking ‘What is happening to me?’ Cutting raw meat was extremely difficult for me. However, the very next day, I landed an editing job with a major channel in Toronto.”

A Flourishing Career in Films and Television

Over the years, Vipin Sharma has built a diverse portfolio. He has appeared in films and television series such as Monkey Man, Gangs of Wasseypur, Hotel Mumbai, and Paatal Lok. More recently, he was seen in the crime series Crime Beat, sharing the screen with actors such as Saqib Saleem, Rajesh Tailang, and Rahul Bhat.