Actor Repays Friend's Debt After Crowdfunding Success

Croatian actor Kristijan Ugrina, known for his roles in theater and television, recently celebrated his 54th birthday, but his personal life has been overshadowed by a significant financial burden. For years, Ugrina struggled to repay a loan he co-signed for the widow of his late drama academy professor. Initially, the woman intended to use the funds for her husband's tombstone, but she eventually stopped making payments.

As the guarantor, Ugrina became responsible for the entire debt, which ballooned due to interest and fees. He managed to buy back one loan from the bank for approximately 50,000 to 60,000 kuna, but a substantial amount remained. After his friend's passing, 12,000 euros of the debt was still outstanding. To cope with the financial strain and continue repaying the loan, Ugrina took on various jobs, including construction work and food delivery.

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This is a standard Croatian story when someone wants to help, and the other person exploits that goodwill.

His friend, Anđelka Mustapić, launched a crowdfunding appeal late last year to raise the remaining 12,000 euros. Ugrina had modest expectations, but the campaign exceeded all hopes. Within 24 hours, the full amount was collected, allowing the actor to finally settle the debt. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Ugrina expressed his disbelief and thanked everyone who contributed to resolving his long-standing financial struggle.

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I really couldn't have dreamed of this.