First jobs of Rohit Roy, Smriti Irani

Before they became household stars, many of Indian televisions hottest names were your average Rohits, or Smritis.

We take you down some television stars' memory lanes, to their first jobs.

Rohit Roy My first job was right after college. I worked as a salesman at a Zodiac [an apparel company] store. A friend of mine had put in a word for me and I found myself selling shirts. There was no interview or anything. I was good at my job. My boss knew me as someone who would sell a guy two shirts when he had planned to buy one! I earned Rs 750 per month. At that time, Rs 750 was a huge amount. I took my girlfriend out for a good meal! Your first income is like your first love. You can never explain it. The sheer enthusiasm; earning the label of being an 'adult', someone who earns his bread. It's all about a boy turning into a man. My first acting job was in Swabhiman. When I met the guys at Plus Channel, I was told that I would be playing the central character of a daily soap. The money would not be great because I was being introduced. At that time, I had no idea what it meant. I heard that I would get Rs 15,000 per month, and I was okay with it.

When I finally received the cheque, it was for Rs 50,000. I was shocked! When you get something you don't expect, it feels great.

Smriti Irani

I landed my first job when I was 16. It was a summer job, which fetched me Rs 250 per day. I was selling herbal cosmetic products, called Naturants, at a roadside stall in the sweltering Delhi heat. I could hang onto my job for five days only because there were so many kids wanting to take up summer jobs then. From my salary, I gave Rs 100 to all the elders in my family -- my grandmother, mother and father. It was quite sentimental. With the rest of the money, I bought gifts for my sisters and a dupatta for my mother. That was all I could afford. What stuck in my memory was that it took only half a day to blow up what I had earned in five days! I realised one needs to be careful with money. Later, I worked at my father's courier company but he did not pay me a salary. I just got conveyance money. I saved whatever I could from that, and it came up to Rs 20,000. With that money, I set up an agency in Thane, which was a success. I know I have the skill to survive and be successful. Even if I were not a known face or didn't have an acting job, I would have been successful.

I've done it all, even wiped floors at a McDonald's when I worked there. You need to start from scratch to reach the top.

Sudha Chandran

My first earning was for the film Nache Mayuri. It was not a huge amount, as it was my first film. For me, the joy and pride was in the fact that I received the cheque from (filmmaker) Ramoji Rao. He is known as the man with the Midas touch. Whatever he touched turned into gold, and the same held true for me as well. From then onwards, everything I have ventured into was fruitful. I gave my first paycheque to my father and that habit continues till today. It is important to be financially sound and support yourself. It gives you a sense of security.

Poonam Goel

My father was the secretary of Lions Club, which organised annual functions. At 13, I took part in a dance competition in one of those functions and won. The prize money was Rs 3,000. That was my first earning. I was on top of the world. I did not buy anything for my parents -- just selfishly spent the entire amount on me. I hope I have covered up in all these years for that! I spent my first pay on crackers, as it was during Diwali. My first paycheque in the acting profession happened accidentally. I had accompanied a friend to an audition. She was asked to enact a scene and needed a partner to do it with. So that's how my audition happened as well. I don't know how Ekta Kapoor liked me!

Neeru Bajwa

My first job was at 16. I was working at a supermarket in Vancouver. It was a four-hour-a-day job. I worked for a month and earned $200. I didn't even wait to get the cheque encashed. I signed at the back of my cheque and got $200 from my mother instead, and went shopping. I was a very selfish 16-year-old, and spent the entire amount on myself. Then, I took my sister out for lunch. When you are 16 and buying stuff with your own money, it feels great! You feel like an adult. Working in the supermarket was fun. It was easy money for an easy job. When I just started out in Mumbai three years ago, I got work in a music video. They said I was going to be the star of the music video. I was so happy to get work that I didn't bother discussing the money. A month later, when I finally received the cheque, it was for Rs 2,000 only. But that was my fault. I should have discussed it with them. Now, with Amit [Sadh, also an actor] in my life, I have become wise.