EXCLUSIVE: Did You Know Soha Ali Khan Once Had A 2.2 LPA Bank Job, Paid 17,000 Rent?
Did you know that before the red carpets, film sets, and glamorous magazine shoots, Soha Ali Khan once had a regular 9-to-5 job with a modest paycheck and rent to worry about? Yep, the Pataudi princess was once crunching numbers at a bank instead of delivering dialogues on screen.
EXCLUSIVE: Did You Know Soha Ali Khan Once Had A 2.2 LPA Bank Job, Paid 17,000 Rent?
In a recent chat with Instant Bollywood, Soha revealed, “I wanted to live an independent life and earn my own money so that I could make my own decisions, so that I wouldn’t have to listen to anyone else.”
(Also Read: Chhorii 2 Movie Review: Nushrratt Bharuccha & Soha Ali Khan Starrer Has Decent Performances But Weaker Storytelling)
And independent she was, paying ₹17,000 a month in rent while working at Citibank. Her salary? A humble ₹2.2 lakh per annum. Which means almost her entire salary was going towards rent. Add a few extra perks like travel allowance and some reimbursements, and that was it. By today’s standards, it’s barely anything.
“I was paying 17,000 rent, at that time, I had a job at Citibank. my salary wasn’t that much – ₹2,20,000 per annum. But then I wanted to change to films.”
At the time, it was her ticket to freedom. She laughed about it, pointing out how little that feels now, but also acknowledged that she had a safety net thanks to her family. Not everyone has that luxury, and she was aware of her privilege even then.
(Also Read: Birthday Special: Check Out 21 Pics & Vids Of Soha Ali Khan’s Luxurious Aesthetic Mumbai Home!)
Working A 9-To-5 Job Gave Her The Courage To Switch To Films
Soha explained that this financial independence gave her the courage to take a leap into films, even though she knew her parents might not be thrilled. Since she was paying her own bills, she didn’t have to be “answerable or accountable” to anyone. Imagine telling your parents you’re quitting a bank job for Bollywood. Definitely a gutsy move, unless you can cushion the landing yourself.
And how did she like the banking life? Not at all. As she put it, “Absolutely not. No offense to anybody watching, but banking was not for me.”
Fair enough. Not everyone is made for Excel sheets and balance sheets, some are destined for scripts and spotlights.
It’s refreshing, though, isn’t it? To think that someone we usually picture in couture gowns once dealt with office cubicles, fixed salaries, and rent anxiety. Before the glitz, she was just another young professional figuring life out.
So the next time you’re grumbling about your paycheck or rent, remember, even Bollywood royalty once lived that grind. And if Soha Ali Khan could swap balance sheets for film scripts, maybe there’s hope for the rest of us too.
(Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: “10 Years Ago, There Was A Robbery At Our Home Too” – Says Soha Ali Khan)
