Kriti Sanon, known for her candidness about both her personal and professional life, recently opened up about her upbringing and financial background in an interview with Nikhil Kamath on his YouTube podcast, WTF.
During the conversation, Kriti discussed her roots, describing herself as coming from a middle-class family. She also spoke about how she now has the privilege to choose her projects, thanks to her financial security.
When asked if her current ability to select roles was influenced by financial stability, Kriti clarified, "It's not about the money. I do consider myself privileged. I come from a middle-class family, but I've never had to work out of financial necessity. My parents were working, and they never made me feel like we lacked anything."
Addressing the common trend of celebrities being trolled for claiming to be middle-class, Nikhil Kamath noted, "Anyone who mentions being middle-class on camera often gets trolled."
Kriti responded by acknowledging her genuine experience, saying, "I have truly been... maybe upper-middle-class, but I was never extremely rich or wealthy. At the same time, I never felt the pressure to work just for the sake of earning money. Even today, I share a joint account with my father, and I’m not fully aware of the money flow. Recently, I've started paying a bit more attention to how much is there."
In the same interview, Kriti reflected on how being an outsider has influenced her career, even after spending a decade in the industry.
She admitted that there are still moments where it impacts her, particularly because she doesn't have industry connections to make calls on her behalf. "There were more moments of frustration earlier in my career, but it's taken me ten years to get to where I am now. Today, I feel less pressure to prove myself."
Kriti also touched on her need for validation in the industry, emphasizing that she has always been driven to be recognized as a talented actor, not just a star. "Whether it's through box office success or my performances, I've always been eager to be seen as a good actor. Awards, including the National Awards, provide a sense of validation. Now, I feel like I don't need to prove myself anymore. I just need to push myself and focus on what excites me."