Inder Chhajli’s journey from a village government school to a Rs 3-crore car collection

For Inder Chhajli, success is not measured by the cars he drives today, but by how far he has travelled from the days when he had barely enough money in his pocket to get by. Chhajli grew up in a household where his parents, both uneducated, worked hard through farming to provide for the family.

In the middle-class family based out of Chhajli, in Punjab’s Sangrur, there was no connection to the entertainment industry. In fact, Chhajli’s father never believed acting could be a suitable career for their son and wanted him to continue with farming.

But Chhajli had always felt he was meant to pursue something different. One of his childhood dreams was to study in an English-medium school. Financial constraints, however, meant that he had to attend a government school instead.

Basic household needs consumed the family’s limited income from farming. He recalls that his upbringing taught him the value of hard work, simplicity, and perseverance. After completing his schooling at a government senior secondary school in Chhajli, he went on to pursue an MBA in Theatre Management from Panjab University and received formal theatre training.

He went on to perform in several plays, including Ankhi Yodhe, Dulle Di Taap, Mandikaran and Kaale Dive Di Loh. This training would later become one of the biggest strengths of his career. Shortly after the short film Bapu, he realised that he could build a career in the creative field.

The audience response gave him the confidence to take acting seriously. But the road ahead was far from easy. Chhajli faced criticism not only from people around him but also from relatives who questioned his choices. He also received threatening calls and ransom demands, he says, adding that his car was followed on several occasions.

Despite the threats, he continued working. However, the biggest setback of his life came with the death of his father. Soon, the family found itself struggling even more, as many people who had once appeared supportive gradually disappeared.

Chhajli remembers that this was a particularly difficult phase when he was unsure about what to do next. One of the defining moments in Chhajli’s life was when he visited the Golden Temple with his friend. He had only Rs 200 in his pocket and spent it offering Karah Prasad.

With nothing left, he prayed before Guru Ram Das Ji. For Chhajli, that moment marked the beginning of a change. “I felt that was the last day of my poverty.”