Celebrities recall the special moments when they earned their first paycheck
For every actor or performer, the journey towards success is marked by memorable milestones. One of the most cherished moments is often their first earning — whether it’s through a TV show, a theatre gig or even a simple entrepreneurial venture. These first steps are not only financial, but also deeply personal. From heartfelt gifts to cherished purchases, here’s how some well-known faces recall spending their first paychecks and the emotional connections that made them unforgettable.
Dear mom
Romiit Raaj
"My first earnings from Shakalaka Boom Boom on Star Plus went towards buying a ring for my mother. She was so happy, but she also said, ‘You should have bought something for yourself.’ That’s how my mother was — she always put others first."
Phone call
Anupama Solanki
"My first earning came from my debut Star Plus TV show Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, in 2017. I was new to Mumbai and luckily landed that role quickly. I played Shweta in the show, and with my first paycheck I bought my first Vivo phone. It was such a memorable time for me."
Dance teacher
Bhawana Aneja
"My first earning experience was at 17 or 18 when I started teaching dance at a school. I later opened a small dance school in my flat, teaching Bollywood dance to kids. My first paycheck was Rs 5,000 and it all happened thanks to a friend who encouraged me to join a school as a dance instructor. People in the 90s were crazy about Bollywood dance, and that helped me begin my career."
Huge moment
Rinku Ghosh
"I earned Rs 30,000 for two days of work in an advertisement for Kelvinator refrigerators by Lintas when I was 17. It was a huge amount for someone my age! I gave the entire sum to my mother, who always offered a portion to God first. I continued this tradition until she passed away, and I still do it to this day."
Counting her blessings
Ekta Tiwari
"It wasn’t about earning, but blessings when I received Rs 200 from my school principal in Class10. I helped my teachers with exam sheets and activity classes during summer. I spent the money buying gifts for my parents — a photo-frame and a pen for my father, and a jewelry set for my mother. Their pride in me and their upbringing made it all so special, and I still have the jewelry set I gifted to my mother."
Theatre love
Delnaaz Irani
"I’ve always loved theatre and my first earnings came from working backstage with Alec Padamsee’s group. In 1989, I earned Rs 200 per show and learnt the basics of theatre — lighting, stage set-up, costumes and more. In 1990, I did my first play with Dinyar Contractor and earned Rs 400 per show. With two shows every weekend, I was making Rs 800 a week, which was my first professional earning."
Biker boy
Rohit Choudhary
"When I was in college, I borrowed Rs 40,000 from my sister to buy fireworks at wholesale rates. I sold them for around Rs 78,000, paid back the money and used the profit to buy my first bike — an RX100. I still have that bike today, and I remember being so excited that I couldn’t sleep the night before taking it to college."
