Latest news with #HumansofBombay
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bollywood actress left marriage at 19 with baby in arms to survive. Now, that baby helps Rukhsar Rehman heal after second divorce
Leaving Marriage to Protect Daughter Rebuilding Career and Reuniting with Daughter Support Through Second Divorce Not all Bollywood stories revolve around glamour and success; some are marked by courage, sacrifice, and resilience. Rukhsar Rehman's life exemplifies this truth. The actress, who debuted opposite Rishi Kapoor as a teenager, faced immense personal challenges early on. Forced by family pressure to leave acting and marry young, she walked away from her marriage at 19 with her infant daughter in her arms. Years later, after rebuilding her career and facing another divorce, it was that same daughter who became her pillar of began her Bollywood career at 17, starring in films such as Yaad Rakhegi Duniya and Inteha Pyar Ki. However, as highlighted on the Humans of Bombay Instagram page, her parents did not view acting as a respectable profession. Despite her promising start, they arranged her marriage, leading her to step away from films to focus on family life and the age of 19, Rukhsar made the tough choice to leave her marital home with her eight-month-old daughter, Aisha Ahmed. In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, she reflected on the challenges of being a young divorced mother and the societal judgments she faced. Returning to her father's home in Rampur, she supported herself by opening a boutique, all while holding on to her passion for 2005, Rukhsar relocated to Mumbai to restart her acting career. This meant leaving Aisha temporarily with her parents—a separation she described as the hardest part of her journey. After enduring numerous auditions and setbacks, she landed roles in films like D, Sarkar, PK, and God Tussi Great Ho, as well as TV shows including Kuch Toh Log Kahenge and Tumhari Paakhi. Eventually, Rukhsar reunited with Aisha in Mumbai. Inspired by her mother's resilience, Aisha has carved out her own space in entertainment, starring in web series such as Adulting and Minus later married filmmaker Faruk Kabir, but after 13 years, that marriage also ended in divorce. Reflecting on this painful experience, Rukhsar emphasized the importance of moving forward with acceptance and faith. She shared that every change in life brings lessons, both good and bad, and it is essential to embrace them and keep this difficult period, her daughter Aisha played a crucial role in helping her heal. Rukhsar expressed deep gratitude for Aisha's unwavering support, describing her as an exceptional daughter whose presence was invaluable during the heartbreak. The actress acknowledged that having Aisha by her side made a significant difference in navigating the challenges of her personal life.
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Bollywood actress left marriage at 19 with baby in arms to survive. Now, that baby helps Rukhsar Rehman heal after second divorce
Synopsis Bollywood actress Rukhsar Rehman's journey is one of resilience and courage. After debuting at 17, she was forced to leave acting due to family pressure and marry young. At 19, she left her failing marriage with her infant daughter to start anew. Years later, she rebuilt her career through perseverance and reunited with her daughter, who has become a strong source of support—especially after Rukhsar's second divorce. Rukhsar Rehman Overcame Early Setbacks and Personal Losses with Her Daughter by Her Side Not all Bollywood stories revolve around glamour and success; some are marked by courage, sacrifice, and resilience. Rukhsar Rehman's life exemplifies this truth. The actress, who debuted opposite Rishi Kapoor as a teenager, faced immense personal challenges early on. Forced by family pressure to leave acting and marry young, she walked away from her marriage at 19 with her infant daughter in her arms. Years later, after rebuilding her career and facing another divorce, it was that same daughter who became her pillar of strength. Rukhsar began her Bollywood career at 17, starring in films such as Yaad Rakhegi Duniya and Inteha Pyar Ki. However, as highlighted on the Humans of Bombay Instagram page, her parents did not view acting as a respectable profession. Despite her promising start, they arranged her marriage, leading her to step away from films to focus on family life and motherhood. At the age of 19, Rukhsar made the tough choice to leave her marital home with her eight-month-old daughter, Aisha Ahmed. In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, she reflected on the challenges of being a young divorced mother and the societal judgments she faced. Returning to her father's home in Rampur, she supported herself by opening a boutique, all while holding on to her passion for 2005, Rukhsar relocated to Mumbai to restart her acting career. This meant leaving Aisha temporarily with her parents—a separation she described as the hardest part of her journey. After enduring numerous auditions and setbacks, she landed roles in films like D, Sarkar, PK, and God Tussi Great Ho, as well as TV shows including Kuch Toh Log Kahenge and Tumhari Paakhi. Eventually, Rukhsar reunited with Aisha in Mumbai. Inspired by her mother's resilience, Aisha has carved out her own space in entertainment, starring in web series such as Adulting and Minus later married filmmaker Faruk Kabir, but after 13 years, that marriage also ended in divorce. Reflecting on this painful experience, Rukhsar emphasized the importance of moving forward with acceptance and faith. She shared that every change in life brings lessons, both good and bad, and it is essential to embrace them and keep going. Throughout this difficult period, her daughter Aisha played a crucial role in helping her heal. Rukhsar expressed deep gratitude for Aisha's unwavering support, describing her as an exceptional daughter whose presence was invaluable during the heartbreak. The actress acknowledged that having Aisha by her side made a significant difference in navigating the challenges of her personal life.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shah Rukh Khan's co-star delves into why 'you can't make money as an actor,' reveals writing letters and drawing greeting cards for him on set
Ahsaas Channa , who starred with Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta in 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna', recently shared that one cannot make money by acting as a job. For those who don't remember, the actress played the role of SRK and Preity's son in the film. She also starred as a boy in Sushmita Sen 's 2004 release, 'Vaastu Shastra'. Here's why Ahsaas feels that a person cannot rely on acting for their sources of income. Ahsaas Channa says, 'You can't make money as an actor' On the Humans of Bombay podcast, the actress shared her views about relying on acting as a job. She said, "I feel you can't make money as an actor. You've to do brand deals and endorsements to make money because brands only have the money to give you." Channa further elaborated on her statement, sharing that she would not say she doesn't earn money by acting, but not enough. The actress added that she wouldn't do as many projects in a single year as brands. Ahsaas said that she would manage one or two projects in a year and get paid a certain amount for the same. However, on the other hand, she can do "20 brands a year to make a bigger amount of money." In the same interview, Ahsaas shared that she is "privileged" and "lucky" that she can choose her projects and not pick anything just for the sake of getting paid. She said that brands are her backup and feels okay to not do a project in a year sometimes. The actress stated, "Financially, acting is not my first go-to option; it's brands." Ahsaas talks about working with Shah Rukh Khan Ahsaas Channa shared that working with Shah Rukh Khan was one of the "best experiences". Calling him "humble" and "hard-working", the actress revealed that she used to draw greeting cards and write letters for him on the set. She said, "He was the first one who started clapping for me after I gave a shot, which was a really difficult one that didn't make it to the film."
Indian Express
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Shah Rukh Khan's co-star, who started working at 5, says acting doesn't pay: ‘You've to do brand deals, endorsements to make money'
Ahsaas Channa, actor most recently seen in the 2023 Amazon MiniTV show Half CA, started acting at the age of five. She appeared as a boy in Sushmita Sen-starrer 2004 horror film Vaastu Shastra and more memorably, as Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta's son in Karan Johar's 2006 romantic film Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. However, Channa feels she still can't earn enough via acting and has to rely on other sources of revenue — like brand deals and endorsements — to make money. 'I feel you can't make money as an actor. You've to do brand deals and endorsements to make money because brands only have the money to give you,' confessed Channa, adding, 'I won't say I don't make money (via acting), but not enough. I'll not do as many projects a year as brands. I'd be able to do only one or two projects a year and make a certain amount of money. But I'll be able to do 20 brands a year to make a bigger amount of money.' On the Humans of Bombay podcast, Channa argued that the money from brand deals helps since she can keep her acting to creative purposes only. 'I think I'm privileged and lucky enough that I get to choose my acting projects only with a creative lens. I don't have to think financially when I have to say yes to an acting project. Say, I don't have work, I don't have money, so I've to say yes to it. Aisa kabhi nahi hua ki kuchh bhi aaya aur kar lia because paise chahiye (It's never happened that I took up anything that came my way because I didn't have money). I've always been in that space in which I say no to a project only if it's not creatively aligned with what I want to do because I have good backup from brands when it comes to money. So it's okay if I don't do any acting project for a year. Financially, acting is not my first go-to option, it's brands,' explained Channa. However, she admitted that being an actor is her primary identity since that helps her secure the brands that pay. 'I'm also not an influencer or a content creator. I'm an actor who has a certain number of followers,' said Channa, adding, 'Luckily, I've done enough projects, or at least one project, a year to stay relevant as an actor for the brands to come and give me those deals. Luck also plays a part there. It's never happened that I've not done an acting project the entire year.' Channa claimed that since not too many people knew that she played a boy in her early films, she gets a lot of DMs from girls who say she broke their heart when they realized the boy they had a crush on is actually a girl. She also called working with Shah Rukh 'one of the best experiences' of her life. 'He's just so humble and hardworking. I used to draw greeting cards for him and wrote letters to him on set. He was the first one who started clapping for me after I gave a shot which was a really difficult one that didn't make it to the film,' recalled Channa. Also Read — 'I got addicted to attention': Ahsaas Channa on how misconceptions about her gender affected career and mental health; challenges of being repeatedly misjudged She also recalled bumping into another Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna co-star Abhishek Bachchan recently at an award show. 'Luckily, I was in the same row. I was contemplating whether I should go meet him, he won't remember me, I'll have to remind him, it's going to be awkward. And I'm just sitting and staring at him. He's talking to a lot of people, he turns and looks at me, and he comes with his arms wide open just to hug me. He says, 'Ahsaas, wow you've grown up!' You have no idea how happy it made me,' said Channa.
Hindustan Times
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Vivek Agnihotri calls Sandeep Reddy Vanga his alter ego: ‘Has the right to tell stories from his point of view'
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri is standing up for Sandeep Reddy Vanga's cinema, calling him his alter ego. Despite criticism for portraying toxic masculinity in films like Kabir Singh and Animal, Agnihotri believes Vanga is simply showing the truth as he sees it. Vivek Agnihotri has defended Sandeep Reddy Vanga's cinema. (Instagram) Vivek defends Sandeep During an interview with Humans of Bombay, Vivek came forward to defend Sandeep's cinema, saying people criticise him because his movies work at the box office. Vivek said, 'Sandeep Reddy Vanga is more like my alter ego in the industry. Just like me, he speaks fearlessly. People question Sandeep Reddy Vanga for toxic masculinity, but what is really happening in the society? Isn't it the truth? Does your society respect women? It is just his storytelling. He is showing the world to the people from his point of view." Vivek highlighted the significance of perspective in storytelling, recalling the criticism Shekhar Kapur faced for making Bandit Queen from Phoolan Devi's point of view. He shared that the film's perspective eventually gained acceptance. He drew a parallel with his film, The Kashmir Files, which faced similar skepticism, going on to reveal that people reached out to him to mention that they resonated with the film after the Pahalgam attack. Talking about Sandeep, Vivek said, 'I am not claiming that I believe in Vanga. I am just saying he has the right to tell stories from his point of view. People who are abusing him, are also using their right. But, at the end of the day, he is laughing looking at his bank.' He concluded by stressing that Vanga wouldn't be criticised if his films weren't doing well at the box office. He said that if his movies fail, nobody will have an issue, adding, 'they are having an issue, because it is working for him." Sandeep Reddy Vanga faces backlash Vanga faced major backlash over his films Kabir Singh and Animal, with many people accusing them of glorifying toxic masculinity. Animal ignited a debate upon its release, with critics and audiences divided over its portrayal of masculinity and violence. The Ranbir Kapoor-starrer went on to become a blockbuster, earning over ₹900 crore at the box office, even after it was slammed for promoting male toxicity. Shahid Kapoor's Kabir Singh also worked well at the box office, earning over ₹300 crore. It was panned by critics for putting the spotlight on the toxicity of a relationship by showing a couple abusing each other. The film also featured Kiara Advani. Vivek's next film At the moment, Vivek is looking forward to the release of his upcoming directorial, titled The Bengal Files: Right to Life. It is believed that Vivek's film will delve into the politics of 1940s in Bengal. The film stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Govind Namdev, among others, in key roles and is scheduled to release in theatres on September 5.
