1990s actor became a star after his first film became a blockbuster. His luck ran out; he had to rely on superstar to pay his hospital bills

Fortunes can change in an instant in tinsel town. An actor can experience a meteoric rise one day and then suffer a humiliating fall from grace and go from sensation to washed out in no time. In the 1990s, along with Shah Rukh Khan, another young actor was considered one of the rising stars, with a bright future ahead of him – that was none other than Ashiqui star Rahul Roy. His debut film, Aashiqui, went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. Made on a budget of Rs 30 lakh, it earned a staggering Rs 5 crore at the box office.

He signed over a dozen films in a short period of time thanks to the movie's success. The next year, he achieved further popularity with Pyaar Ka Saaya, and in 1992, Junoon won him praise from critics. At this point, the 26-year-old was regarded as one of the most promising young stars in the business, ahead of peers like Aamir Khan, who was regaining his footing after a string of failures following Dil, and Shah Rukh Khan, who was still searching for a solo smash.

However, his stars fell after Junoon. Many of the films he signed as a leading man flopped hard at the box office. From 1993 to 2000, he starred in 13 flops.


Rahul was unemployed in his 30s as a result of numerous producers shelving projects with him. Tune Mera Dil Le Liya with Raveena Tandon, Dil Diya Chori Chori with Karishma Kapoor, Mahesh Bhatt's Kalyug, Vajra with Raveena Tandon and Shilpa Shirodkar, and Jab Jab Dil Mile with Karishma Kapoor, and Nagma were among the films he put it on hold. Mentor Mahesh Bhatt's Khilona, in which he was cast as the male lead, was also shelved. He ultimately transitioned to television, appearing in a few minor roles. In 2010, after delivering more flops, Rahul took a break from acting due to health issues. In 2020, the actor suffered a stroke. After undergoing brain and heart angiography and spending six weeks in the intensive care unit, the actor had little money to pay for his medical care. According to the Hindustan Times, he was allegedly contacted by Salman Khan to assist with his medical costs.

In 2022, he returned to the screen and was seen in supporting roles in several films—such as Kanu Behl’s Agra and Nitin Kumar Gupta’s Walk.