‘Laughter Queen' with Rs 30 crore net worth, grew up in extreme poverty: ‘Mother cleaned toilets, we ate salt and roti'

Time of India

6 days ago

A Childhood Defined by Hunger and Sacrifice
Discovering a Talent That Would Change Her Life
Expanding Her Reach Beyond Stand-Up
A Fortune Earned Through Laughter
Bharti Singh's Wealth and Lifestyle Today
Today, Bharti Singh is celebrated across India as television's undisputed ' Laughter Queen ' and is among the highest-earning comedians on the small screen. However, her ascent to fame is rooted in a past marked by hardship and unimaginable challenges. According to the Times of India, Bharti was only two when her father passed away. The devastating loss left her family without a breadwinner, thrusting her mother and two older siblings—a brother and a sister—into the role of sole providers.The family's economic situation deteriorated so severely that both of Bharti's siblings were forced to discontinue their studies. In order to support the household, they began working at a local blanket factory. Bharti, in a past interview with TOI, recalled how her siblings stitched heavy woollen blankets night after night—blankets so large and warm that their own family couldn't afford to use them.Bharti's upbringing was marked by persistent hunger and relentless poverty. Speaking candidly with Brut India, she described how her mother juggled multiple forms of labor just to keep the family afloat. Her mother not only stitched ceremonial fabrics for religious purposes, known as 'Maata Rani ki Dupatta,' but also worked as a domestic help in other people's homes—cleaning not just rooms but even their toilets.In an interview with Brut India, Bharti painfully recalled how she would wait outside the doors of these houses as her mother toiled inside. At the end of her mother's shift, some families would hand over their leftover food, which Bharti and her siblings would consume gratefully. She said that although it was someone else's stale meal, it became their only nourishment and felt like a blessing."When my mom would work at people's homes, I used to sit near the door. She would clean toilets. While leaving, they would give her leftover food. Their stale food would become our fresh food. And that would make our day," she said.Even festivals, which should have been joyous, reminded her of what they lacked. During Diwali, she couldn't afford firecrackers. So, she would quietly stand near children bursting crackers, pretending she had participated too. Her mother would bring sweets from the homes she worked in, and only then could the family perform Lakshmi puja. She revealed that their meals often consisted solely of roti and salt. Today, she finds comfort knowing her family at least has dal and sabzi on their plates—something she once considered a luxury."'We have eaten salt and roti but now we have dal, sabzi and roti. I just hope my family always has at least dal to eat. I will never want to face the situation or have my family go through that.." she stated.Despite these enormous difficulties, Bharti never gave up. While studying in college in Punjab, she began exploring the world of theatre and comedy. Her natural talent quickly caught the attention of local performers and audiences. This early recognition opened the door to a life-changing opportunity.As per India Today, Bharti was invited to audition for Comedy Circus . The audition took place in Amritsar, and after impressing the producers, she was called to Mumbai. She flew for the first time in her life—alongside her mother—to the city of dreams. There, she was briefed about the format of the show and began her television journey.Bharti quickly became a household name, thanks to her comedic timing and the popularity of her character 'Lali'. Her performances won hearts nationwide, leading to appearances in back-to-back TV comedy shows.Bharti's popularity soon extended beyond comedy. She joined Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5, a dance reality show, and eventually transitioned into hosting various prime-time TV programs. She became a familiar face on shows like Dance Deewane, Hunarbaaz: Desh Ki Shaan, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs 2022, and more recently, Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment.Together with her husband, Haarsh Limbachiyaa—also a writer—Bharti co-manages two YouTube channels: Bharti TV and LOL (Life of Limbachiyaas). Through these platforms, the couple shares daily vlogs and behind-the-scenes glimpses into their lives. Her immense popularity is reflected in her social media presence, where she has amassed a following of over 9 million on Instagram.Bharti's transformation from a child living on leftover meals to a multi-crore-earning celebrity is nothing short of remarkable. As per a report by ETimes, she was paid between Rs10 to Rs 12 lakhs per episode for her role as the host of Laughter Chefs Season 2, putting her among the most highly compensated comedians in the Indian entertainment industry According to estimates published by the Times of India, Bharti's net worth is approximately Rs 30 crore. She owns a lavish 2BHK flat in Mumbai, reportedly worth around Rs 6 crore. Her garage houses a fleet of luxury cars, including an Audi Q5, a Mercedes-Benz GL 350, and a BMW X7—symbolic of just how far she has come.