Shehnaaz Gill had earlier admitted that she was the lowest-paid contestant on Bigg Boss 13, taking home around Rs 4.5 lakh a week. However, her stardom shot up soon after, and she became one of the most expensive celebrities once she exited the show. Speaking on The Kapil Sharma Show in 2023, she said, “Sabse sasti main hi thi aur ab sabse mehengi ban ke nikli hoon.”
Shehnaaz Gill on why money still matters when picking a film
The singer-actress has come a long way, now working across both Hindi and Punjabi films and becoming one of the most in-demand names in the industry, with brand endorsements, music videos and film offers coming her way. Her strong social media presence has also played a big role in raising her value. Speaking to News18, she opens up about how money still matters when she picks a project. “Money is very important. It gives you respect. When I ask for what I deserve today, I sometimes get that, sometimes I don’t and sometimes it’s lesser than what I quote for myself. But har kisi ko apne haq ke liye ladna chahiye. I work really hard and I’ve been through a lot to reach the place that I’m in today,” shares Shehnaaz.Gone are the days when Shehnaaz would take up work without asking for money in return. She explains why that’s changed, telling, “Yes, there was a time when I did a lot of work for free. But uski mujhe izzat nahi mili. Maine logo ke liye itna kuch kiya hai! But now, I do fight for what I deserve. I compromise only on occasions when the film that I’ve been offered is really good.”The actor adds, “When it comes to films, I don’t let money come in the way. I know that I can earn money from ads, endorsements and events. For me, cinema is a very pure and precious medium. Main bahot tareeke se films choose karti hoon.” But is there still something she wishes to learn to move ahead in the industry? “I can’t convince people to cast me in a role. Some people have a lot of convincing power. That’s something I want to learn,” says Shehnaaz. What she does take pride in, though, is her refusal to settle for big-banner films that don’t give her enough to do. “I don’t want to be in a film only for glamour. I don’t want to be used as a prop,” she says.
Shehnaaz Gill’s journey from Bigg Boss 13 to Bollywood
Shehnaaz rose to fame after Bigg Boss 13, where her close bond with late actor Sidharth Shukla struck a chord with millions of fans. Fondly called “SidNaaz,” the duo became one of the most-loved pairs to come out of the show. Following Sidharth’s demise in 2021, Shehnaaz slowly stepped back into work and eventually made her Bollywood debut with Salman Khan‘s ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’. She has since featured in ‘Thank You for Coming’ and continues to be active in Punjabi cinema.
