Actress Nusrat Bharucha, who made her mark with films like ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’, ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2’, ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’, ‘Dream Girl’, ‘Chhori’, ‘Janhit Mein Jaari’, ‘Ram Setu’, may be a successful actress today, but the beginning of her career was not easy. In a recent interview to Bollywood Bubble, Nusrat shared things about her old days. She told how she spent the whole day in just 8 rupees during her college days and many times even when she felt hungry, she managed by drinking only water. The habit of saving money is from college Nusrat said, ‘Oh God, I am not very good at managing finances, but I am not very bad either. I had decided very quickly how much I need to spend in a month. What are my basic needs? I fixed a figure, and whatever came above that figure, I put it in investment and savings. My accountants have been instructed to send the money directly to my wealth advisors. I am scared because the responsibility of the family is mine. She further said, ‘I am not a superhuman. I am scared. My father is now around 70, mother is 62 and my grandmother is 92 years old. All three live with me. God forbid, if something happens, I should have money in backup. I have made my world small, so that I can support my loved ones whenever needed.’ She used to spend her days in college for 5 years with just 8 rupees. Recalling her college days, Nusrat said, ‘I used to go to Jai Hind College from Juhu. Papa’s financial condition was not good at that time, he was cheated in business. I took admission in Jai Hind, but I knew that I cannot spend my father’s money. I have spent 90% of my entire college days with just 8 rupees.’ Only the bus fare was charged, the rest of the day I drank water ‘I used to leave home, catch bus number 231 from Juhu to Santacruz station; it cost 4 rupees. Papa had got me a railway pass, so I didn’t have to pay for it. I would get down at Churchgate, walk to college, stay there the whole day. Same route back in the evening. 4 rupees to go and 4 rupees to come back; total 8 rupees. Water was free in college, so if I felt thirsty, I just drank water.’ I sat in the restaurant, didn’t order Nusrat shared an anecdote, ‘Once friends had organized a get-together in a new restaurant in Bandra. I was at home, I thought should I go or not? A rickshaw from Juhu to Bandra would cost 60-70 rupees, and the same for the return. But sitting alone also seemed boring. I went there, but the thought was to save money. I only ordered a fresh lime soda.’ The stomach was hungry, but there was a smile on the face ‘Everyone was eating there, enjoying. I kept sitting there, did not order anything. Just kept drinking water. And I remember, there was a smile on my face because I was feeling good that no one knew that I was hungry. I thought that a day would come when I would be able to do all this without thinking.’ Even today, Nusrat does not have the habit of spending money Ending the conversation, Nusrat said, ‘That is why even today if I spend money, I do it generously, but not every day. Because my conditioning is like this. I started with 8 rupees, I spent the day drinking water. That is why even now when money comes, there is a thought in the heart that I have to save it.’
