The Dhurandhar franchise has helped several actors gain wider recognition and, in some cases, revive their careers. One of the performers who is quite grateful for the film's success is actor Gaurav Gera. Known to many for his popular comedy characters and viral social media videos, he recently revealed that the positive response to Dhurandhar has given his confidence a significant boost and "improved his self-esteem".While audiences today associate him with comedy and acting, Gaurav's journey to the entertainment industry was far from straightforward. In a recent interview with Jist, the actor opened up about his early ambitions, family support, financial struggles, and the challenges he faced before finding success.From fashion design dreams to theatre: Gaurav Gera's journeyBefore acting entered his life, Gaurav had planned a completely different career. Recalling his journey, the actor told Jist that he studied computer-aided design (CAD) and was fascinated by technology. Looking back, he recalled being fascinated by futuristic ideas and imagining a world where virtual models could wear digitally designed clothes on screen.According to Gaurav, he often thought beyond what the technology of that time could achieve. He compared some of his ideas to what artificial intelligence is capable of today. However, despite his interest in creativity and design, he gradually realised that fashion design was not his true calling.You Might Also Like:The actor said he eventually told his father that continuing the course did not feel right and suggested that they save the money instead of spending more on something he was not passionate about. His father, however, encouraged him to complete what he had started. Gaurav recalled that his father asked him to finish the course, work for six months, and then make his own decision about the future. After honouring that commitment, he chose to leave the field behind and pursue theatre.What made the decision easier was the support he received at home. Although his father was an IIT-BHU engineer and his brother later became a software engineer in the United States, Gaurav said no one forced him to follow the same path. He expressed gratitude that his family never imposed their expectations on him and allowed him the freedom to pursue his own dreams.Gaurav Gera recalls financial struggle daysDespite coming from an educated family, life in Mumbai was not easy for the aspiring actor. Gaurav revealed that money was often scarce during his struggling years. His father, a salaried employee, helped whenever possible, but resources were limited. The actor shared that he still has letters from his father in which he would mention sending Rs 2,000 because that was all he could manage at the time.One memory that remains especially vivid for Gaurav is the period when he had only Rs 84 in his bank account. Recalling those days with humour, he said, "I remember a time when I had only Rs 84 in my bank account. I was walking past an HDFC Bank branch and jokingly folded my hands toward it, saying, "Please take care of me." I would almost bow to the bank every time I passed by. The funny thing was that Rs 84 wasn't even enough to withdraw. I was around 23 or 24 years old then, the age when you're willing to do crazy things to chase your dreams."You Might Also Like:"At the time, it didn't even feel like hardship. Today it might seem difficult, but back then I didn't think much about it. If I didn't have money for an auto-rickshaw, I'd simply walk. It wasn't a big deal."The actor also described himself as someone with strong self-respect. He said he always wanted to become a person who could help others instead of depending on them. He credited this mindset to values passed down through his family, particularly lessons from his grandfather.How Dhurandhar changed thingsYears after those difficult days, Gaurav found himself earning praise for his role in Dhurandhar. In the film, he portrayed an Indian spy operating undercover as a milk soda vendor in Pakistan, a role that showcased a side of him very different from the comic characters audiences had grown accustomed to seeing.Speaking about the impact of the film, Gaurav earlier told Humans of Bombay that the success of Dhurandhar brought him greater respect within the industry and among audiences. "My self-esteem has improved. Mujhe bahut zyada zarurat thi Dhurandhar ki (I needed Dhurandhar). Not just to be a part of it, but also for it to be received well. I am really thankful."Meanwhile, Dhurandhar 2 is all set for the digital debut on June 5 on JioHotstar. Stay tuned!