Actress recalls early struggles despite royal lineage

Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan has reflected on her early career, revealing that she deliberately chose the path of financial independence despite belonging to the royal Pataudi family and being the daughter of legendary stars Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

After completing her master’s degree at the London School of Economics, Soha began working at an international bank in Mumbai with an annual salary of Rs220,000, of which Rs17,000 went toward rent for her small apartment.

“A large portion of my salary would go into paying rent, but I wanted to be financially independent and make my own life decisions,” she recalled.

From finance to films
Although her parents were initially reluctant about her pursuing acting, Soha said her self-earned financial stability gave her the courage to switch careers. A modelling assignment worth Rs500,000 soon marked her turning point, leading to her Bollywood debut in Dil Maange More opposite Shahid Kapoor, where she earned Rs1 million.

Since then, Soha has acted across diverse genres and continues to remain active in the industry. She says her journey stands as proof that independence and self-reliance outweigh privilege alone.