Naveen Arakkal is an actor who is well-known to audiences through television serials. Naveen recently opened up about the challenges he faced in life. Speaking on a TV program, he shared details of his struggles and journey in the entertainment industry.

“I first acted in the serial Samaya Sangamam. Back then, I earned only 500 rupees. Later, I worked at Reliance Life Infocom. But deep inside, I always wanted to act. Then I got a chance to play the lead role in Minnal Kesari. However, due to my bad luck, the show ended after 50 episodes.

I was then called for another project, but I joined only during the climax part. That show also stopped after the second season. People started calling me an unlucky star and actor with no good fortune. Nobody called me for acting after that. My wife and family knew how difficult that time was for me.

By then, I was already married. I had no support from the media field. Mentally, I was going through a very tough phase. When no one offered me opportunities, I didn’t want to just sit idle at home. So, I started driving a taxi. I did that for about two and a half years.

I used to pick up Hindi-speaking tourists from the airport and take them first to Munnar, then to Thekkady, and finally to Thiruvananthapuram. I used to sleep in the car. There was no proper restroom or place to stay. When I reached Thiruvananthapuram, I would replace the yellow taxi board with a white one, using the same number plate. Many people would ask me, ‘Are you really driving a taxi now to survive?’ It used to hurt me deeply.

Only my family supported me during those years. Wherever I went, people who recognised me would say, ‘Why are you driving a taxi? Don’t do that, it’s embarrassing.’ My wife, who is a teacher, had to tell people that her husband was a taxi driver and that was painful for me.

After two and a half years, I quit driving. I asked around for acting opportunities again, and eventually, I got an opportunity in the serial Balamani. Since then, by God’s grace, things have been going well,” Naveen Arakkal said.