Anu Aggarwal on life of struggle in Bollywood: 'I was managing a house alone and single. I didn’t have sugar daddies'

Anu Aggarwal became a household name after the massive success of her debut film, Aashiqui, which released in 1990. However, her hardships did not end there.

In a recent interview, Anu has spoken about how people asked for her autographs and lined up outside her house for a glimpse of her. But she still lived a lonely life in Mumbai.

"I was also managing a house alone and single. I didn’t have sugar daddies. I had a boyfriend, but he was out of the city. And with long-distance, our relationship was getting destroyed. And I was very alone and tough," she said in an interview to a leading daily.

Later, Anu decided to try and find work overseas. "One fine day, I decided to go to Los Angeles as I had been offered a big modelling assignment. When I went there and met them, I asked them if, with my skin colour, they would want me as the main lead. I hear people talk about racism today but 25 years ago, I knew that the girls who were the main leads were all fair. At that time, I was already on the top in my country, so why would I do a side role even if they paid me a lot of money," she said. She later returned home and started focusing her energies on learning yoga and meditation.

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In an earlier interview with Pinkvilla, Anu had opened up about an accident she had suffered in 1999. “Doctors said, ‘She won’t live. She will survive for hardly 3 years.’ But I was certain I could heal. Then everything I had learned, I applied on myself and healed myself. Then, I started yoga therapy for slum kids, and then I was later recognised by other organisations where I gave talks,” she had said.

Apart from Aashiqui, she was also seen in Rakesh Roshan’s King Uncle. She quit acting after a few years; her last release was Return of Jewel Thief in 1996.