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Farah Khan says she relates to outsiders’ anger towards Bollywood’s star kids and admits she still feels financially insecure despite years of success.
Farah Khan has now become a successful YouTuber.
Choreographer and filmmaker Farah Khan, known for creating some of Bollywood’s most iconic films and dance numbers, has opened up about her humble beginnings and the challenges she faced before achieving success. During a candid chat with tennis star Sania Mirza on Serving It Up With Sania, Farah admitted she completely understands the frustration outsiders feel towards “nepo babies” in the film industry.
“I can understand when people come from outside to Mumbai and have anger towards nepo babies. I can understand where that anger comes from, because they’re struggling to pay their rent every month. For them, their (star kids) struggles seem very frivolous,” she said.
‘I’m Still Insecure About Money,’ Says Farah
Farah, who grew up in a financially unstable household, revealed that her early life struggles continue to shape her mindset even today. “Till now, I’m insecure about money. For me, I need to be financially secure to relax, that’s the only insecurity I have. That drive to keep working is always there,” she said.
Recounting her childhood, the filmmaker shared, “We saw our dad go from being very rich to very poor, and for several years, we lived hand to mouth.” Despite achieving immense success in Bollywood, she confessed that her fear of financial instability still drives her work ethic.
‘Nowadays, Everyone Wants A Struggle Story’
Speaking about the current trend of celebrities sharing their struggles to appear more relatable, Farah remarked, “Nowadays, everyone wants a struggle story. Even those who haven’t really struggled are trying to create one out of something weird. But I’m happy that my kids won’t have one.”
Farah’s real-life journey, however, is nothing short of inspiring. With no formal dance training, she taught herself choreography by watching music videos and practising tirelessly. Her big break came with Pehla Nasha from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), after which she choreographed numerous hit songs like Ek Pal Ka Jeena, Sheila Ki Jawani, and Desi Girl.
She later turned filmmaker, debuting with the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Main Hoon Na (2004), followed by Om Shanti Om (2007) and Happy New Year (2014), solidifying her status as one of Bollywood’s most successful women directors.
Despite her success, Farah’s humility and honesty continue to strike a chord with audiences, reminding everyone that behind the glamour lies a journey of perseverance and grit.
Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, …Read More
Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, … Read More
October 31, 2025, 07:25 IST
