Actors and particularly female actors careers are often marked by unpredictability, feels Samridhii Shukla, who is known for her role in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, She believes in the importance of setting aside a portion of one’s earnings during prosperous times—especially in an industry where glamour frequently masks the underlying uncertainties of real life.
“An actor’s life is full of uncertainties,” Samridhii says while speaking to Filmytown.com, further adding, “Today’s generation has access to a wide array of financial instruments to help secure their future. A wise option for an actor has to be regularly investing in something like SIP or PPF or even Financial Bonds and Mutual Funds.” She feels it is wise to regularly set aside some part of your earnings when the going is good because glamour often overshadows reality in the Bollywood and Television industry.
Samridhii Shukla stands out with her candid take on money, work, and balance. The actress, who began earning as a child, says financial independence and discipline are what keep her grounded in the unpredictability of showbiz.
Recalling her earliest memory of earning, which came when she was just five or six years old, Samridhii Shukla shared, “The first time I earned money was only conveyance money. I couldn’t audition properly, didn’t get the part, but I was given ₹200. I was a child back then, but even then I understood the value of money.”
She credits this awareness to the financial challenges her family faced while growing up. “I never nagged or pestered my parents for anything. Maybe because I was very conscious about the circumstances at home. I wanted to start earning early to fund my education and reduce the weight on my father, who was the sole earner. Whatever I earned as a minor was kept in an account managed by my mother. I used it only for emergencies or education,” she said.
Dreaming with my eyes open
Calling money “energy,” the actress highlighted the importance of being financially disciplined. “As actors, we live a very volatile life. We don’t know how long a project will last or what pay we will get next. For me, financial independence means being able to sustain my lifestyle even when I am not working. That’s why I believe in saving and investing. Our parents’ generation didn’t have much financial exposure, but today we do. Every actor should have something like an SIP or PPF to secure the future,” she advised.
Maintaining work-like balance isn’t just confined to Bollywood
Talking about the present-day work culture, Samridhii highlighted that the struggle to maintain work-life balance isn’t confined to the entertainment industry. “Even my sister, who works in a marketing agency, is working round the clock. In a city like Mumbai, where sustaining yourself is expensive, whether you’re in corporate or entertainment, the pressure is constant. On top of that, doom scrolling on social media has made people lose track of time. But despite the long hours, I genuinely love my work,” she said.
Despite working 12-hour shifts, plus long commutes, Samridhii Shukla tries to make the most of her time. “During travel, I catch up with podcasts or what’s happening around the world. I avoid phone calls and enjoy being with myself. I usually get only 5–7 hours of sleep, which I know isn’t healthy. Honestly, I don’t think I’m the best person to give time management tips, but I try to balance it all,” she smiled.
