I grew up in poverty and can’t read or write but now I’m one of the world’s biggest social media stars and rub shoulders with Ronaldo

EXCLUSIVE: MailOnline spoke to Abdu Rozik, 20, taking the internet by storm
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A 3ft-tall boxer and singer taking the internet by storm has revealed how he made a phenomenal rise to stardom despite not being able to read or write.

Abdu Rozik, 20, hails from a small village in Tajikistan called Ghizhdarva – but the lavish lifestyle he now leads in Dubai, where he brushes shoulders with internet royalty, is worlds away from his humble background.

Born Muhammadroziqi Savriqul to parents Rooh Afza, father Savriqul Muhammad, Abdu revealed to FEMAIL how his father worked hard in a construction job to provide for the family when he was a child, but coming from a family of seven, the money didn’t go very far.

He also claims to have suffered horrific abuse from both teachers and peers at his school, which was more than two hours away from his family home, because of his height.

Disillusioned with the education system, he made the decision to leave school after just two years, before he’d even made it to secondary school. Despite now having a successful career as a singer, blogger and boxer, he has revealed his regret over not finishing school and wants to complete his education one day, because he still struggles to read and write.

Abdu was starstruck when he met Ronaldo. After I told him ‘I’m a huge fan of yours, I love you’ and asked for a picture together he laughed and said “I’m a fan of you too”

Recalling his school days, Abdu told FEMAIL: ‘It was so hard, I would have to get up before 6 to get [to school] for 8am.’

He claimed the long journey meant he was often late for school – and punishments from teachers often included hitting.

With a tiny stature caused by untreated rickets (not Dwarfism, as is a common misconception about Abdu), the singer was also subject to relentless bullying because he looked different to his peers.

A combination of the difficult journey and the teasing caused him to leave school at 9 years old with an incomplete education.

‘I couldn’t walk the 2km every day as my legs hurt’.

‘Some teachers told me to not come back,’ he said. ‘I’d love to complete my schooling – I can’t really read or write. Reading is very hard for me’.

Despite a lack of education, Abdu taught himself English last year and is now proficient in the language.

Abdu also explained how the lack of access to medical care as a child affected him later in life – particularly when he had rickets which was left untreated and stunted his growth.

Whereas he was once mocked for his height, the singer and boxer now sees it as a quality that makes him ‘special’ – and he’s grateful for his smaller stature

‘When I was young, my dad worked in construction and we didn’t have much money for travel.

‘He’d earn maybe around £300 to £400 in a month or two and this was hard to stretch for our family of seven’.

With little money behind them, Abdu, who is now famous for his 3ft height, was left with untreated rickets as his family couldn’t afford treatment, leading to his stunted growth.

‘It’s really quite heartbreaking as this could have been solved. It’s a misconception that Abdu has Dwarfism’, his agent said.

To make ends meet and to help his family out financially, Abdu began busking in local street markets.

Now he has sung his way to Dubai where he lives a life of luxury – and he claims he’s currently the only member of his family making money because it’s difficult to find employment back at home.

Whereas he was once mocked for his height, the singer and boxer now sees it as a quality that makes him ‘special’ – and he’s grateful for his smaller stature.

The devout Muslim said: ‘God made me like this,’ he said. ‘I thank God for everything and try my best to pray five times a day’.

Last year, the Tajikistani singer got his big break when he appeared on the 16th season of Bigg Boss – Indian Big Brother, hosted by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.

According to the Times of India, Abdu candidly revealed to his Bigg Boss housemates: ‘I used to sing in the bazaar (market). I would earn five to ten dollars at most’.

Abdu grew up idolising Salman Khan, and revealed it was ‘surreal’ to meet him in person.

He said: ‘Like many Tajiks, we grew up watching Bollywood movies.

‘Salman told me to go on Bigg Boss so I could reach more success. All of my family are so jealous that I got to meet THE Salman Khan!’

His stint in the Bigg Boss house, where he was introduced as a Tajik singer and social media influencer, catapulted him to fame – and he melted hearts in India after relaying his rags to riches story.

Abdu is so well-loved in India following the reality show that he is constantly surrounded by masses of fans whenever he goes back to visit.

‘People love me because I’m different’, he told FEMAIL.

Abdu is so well-loved in India following the reality show that he is constantly surrounded by masses of fans whenever he goes back to visit. Here he is pictured with Bollywood beauty and social activist Shilpa Shetty

‘I went to a shopping mall in Delhi and it was so overcrowded that thousands of people trampled my car and the windows caved in. The car broke!’

After winning fans in India through his stint on reality TV, Abdu went on to achieve global fame when he became embroiled in a highly-publicised feud with his rival Hasbulla, a Russian social media star who also stands at 3ft tall.

‘I’ve always loved the gym but I started boxing at 17 when Hasbulla invited me to fight. I started training for the fight in the gym every day.

‘Before I went to the gym for my health, but this time it was to win. I don’t like Hasbulla. I’m always ready to fight him’.

While the match didn’t go ahead for reasons he didn’t specify, Abdu has caught the attention of some huge names, including the likes of Ronaldo, Akon and KSI.

After winning fans in India through his stint on reality TV, Abdu went on to achieve global fame when he became embroiled in a highly-publicised feud with his rival Hasbulla , a Russian social media star who also stands at 3ft tall

The 20-year-old admitted that he isn’t the world’s biggest football fan, but he was starstruck by the Portuguese striker.

‘I’m on the side of Ronaldo,’ he said. ‘Wherever he goes, I’ll go. If I’m watching football, it’s a Ronaldo game.

‘The first time I met him I was so nervous, because he’s such a big star. At the time I had 1 million followers but I was still thinking “Oh my God”. I was so excited.

After I told him “I’m a huge fan of yours, I love you” and asked for a picture together he laughed and said “I’m a fan of you too”. It was the best moment of my life.

‘I was jumping up and down. I hugged him and we got a picture. It’s been a huge moment for me in my life.’

He cherished the moment so much that it has been Abdu’s Instagram profile picture since they first met.

Abdu often uploads funny skits to his Instagram page, as well as short clips of him singing, primarily in his native Tajik.

In May, he set up the burger restaurant Burgiir, which is located in Mumbai, in his beloved India where she shot to stardom and said that it is set to be a chain – with plans to open another at an undisclosed location in the UK.

While the match didn’t go ahead for reasons he didn’t specify, Abdu has caught the attention of some huge names, including the likes of Ronaldo, Akon and KSI. Pictured here is the internet sensation with KSI

Abdu, who often uploads funny skits to his Instagram page, as well as short clips of him singing primarily in his native Tajik is seen here. Here is pictured with Muslim rapper Akon, famed for his collaborations with Eminem and Snoop Dogg

The launch was inspired by his infamous burger meme which took the internet by storm – where he adorably pronounced the word as ‘borgir’ as he waffled one down.

However, the singer-turned viral sensation hasn’t just delved into food entrepreneurship – he recently tried his hand at DJing, is about to make his first English language song debut, and will be seen in an upcoming Indian movie.

Since achieving worldwide fame, Abdu, who now boasts 8 million followers on Instagram, said: ‘Nobody bullies me anymore, they love me.’

His net worth is estimated to be between £400,000 and £800,000 and he uses some of this to support his family in Tajikistan, which includes two sisters, 16, and 17, and two brothers aged 13 and 21.

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