In a new interaction series Shopping Files, we ask men and women to share their attitudes towards spending, saving and investing, their craziest indulgences and more.
To kick off this series, we had a very interesting chat with the exuberant Rakhi Sawant. Here's what the outspoken actress had to say about her money mantras, life without money and the high life.
"Maine woh din bhi dekha hai, jab khaane ke liye paise nahi tha ( I've seen days when I didn't have money for food)."
Growing up, my family was very poor. So I started working when I was just 11-years-old to help my mother run the home. I worked for a catering company as a waitress. I would earn Rs 50 a day and if I did two shifts, Rs 100. My mother would take all the money I earned and give me just Rs 5 for my travel and food expenses.
"Main designer shops dekhke sochti thi, ek na ek din main bhi yeh sab kharid paoongi ( I used to see thses designer shops n think to myself that one day even I'll be able to purchase all that these stores had to offer)."
I always wanted to be rich; I didn’t want to be poor forever. But I didn't know how I was ever going to make money
. Sometimes I would look at clothes in big stores and think 'I'll never be able to afford this' and then quickly I would say, 'No, someday it will happen.'
PAGE_BREAK
"Abhi to lag raha hai lottery jeeti hoon main, (Now it feels as though I have won a lottery)."
Now I earn good money. I can spend as much as I want on me.
I love buying diamonds and good clothes. I spend too much money on clothes even though I only wear them once. I hate repeating my outfits. But more than clothes, I love buying really, really expensive lingerie. I believe you must feel good from the inside first.
I spend a lot of money on my home too. I have done up my home lavishly with artwork. I have beautiful paintings of Gandhiji, Jesus and Mother Mary in my house.
"I love my body too much, isiliye main apne body ko insure kiya hai (I love my body too much, that's why I have insured it)."
I love everything about me -– my face, my figure, everything! I spend on my body every second day. After all, my body earns me money. I go for hair spas and body spas regularly.
My cosmetic physician, Dr Rashmi Shetty makes me look more beautiful every day.
PAGE_BREAK
"Jab bhi aapke paas paisa hai, save it. Pata nahin yeh din kab tak rahenge (When you have money, save it. Who knows how long prosperity will last?).
I love to spend money, but I also believe in saving. You might not be able to make money all your life. So save whatever you can when you can.
I don't want to be like some Hindi film actresses who, when they died, didn't even have money to pay for their coffin!
I have financial advisors who guide me. I have invested a lot in insurance, bank fixed deposits and property for the dance academy I plan to start soon. I do not believe in stocks because my money is hard earned and I cannot afford to gamble with it.
"Bhagwan mere saare kaam sambhalte hain (God takes care of all my work)."
God gives me work and he is my manager. Just like I pay my manager, I give God his commission.
I earned Rs 5,000 for my first big assignment (an item number opposite actor Govinda in the film, Joru Ka Ghulam). I gave Rs 1,000 to God and kept the rest.
Nowadays, I give at least 10 to 20 per cent of my earnings to God or to the poor. The amount has even gone up to 10 lakh.
Comments
0 comment