My first pay cheque: Madhur Bhandarkar

Q When was the first time you earned a significant amount of money?
It was in 1983 or 1984 when I was about 14 years old and was running a video parlour. A businessman paid me a cheque of Rs 250 for the cassettes I rented out to him. It was a lot of money for me then.

Q What did you do with it?
I kept that cheque for a while for sentimental reasons, and then invested it in my video parlour.

Q Has money been a motivating factor in your life? To what extent is money important?
Money does mean a lot but hasn't been my driving force. I work according to my convictions and money has only followed. But like the movies that I do, I have reasonable expectations about the money they would bring me.

Q Do you save for a rainy day? How would you advise the youth to save?
I am not much of a spender though my indulgences are travelling, books and DVDs. I invest in various schemes, though now I would like to invest in property. Saving is a very necessary part of earning money and I think the youth need to understand the importance of saving.

Q What is your advice to youngsters who are at the crossroads between opting for a dream vocation instead of a well-paying one?
I would only tell people to choose what they are convinced about. Because at the end of the day, you have to feel strongly motivated to want to get back to work the next day. So choose what you enjoy most.