Vicky Kaushal On Financial Struggles During Childhood: 'I Was Born And Brought Up In A Chawl'

News18

2 days ago

Vicky Kaushal and Sunny Kaushal grew up watching their father, stunt director, Sham Kaushal's tough journey in Bollywood.
Being born into a film industry family might sound glamorous, but Vicky and Sunny Kaushal's early life was anything but flashy. Their father, veteran action director Sham Kaushal, is now opening up about what those early days were really like – and how the lessons from those times shaped his sons into who they are today.
In a candid conversation with Aman Aujla on YouTube, Sham revisited the tough years that grounded their family. Forget film premieres and red carpets – the Kaushals once lived in a 10×10 foot room, sharing thin bedding laid over a cement floor.
'They were both born in a 10×10 chawl," Sham recalled, adding, 'We used to sleep on a thin mattress on a cement floor. Then we moved to a bigger chawl with two rooms. Then we moved into a flat. They've seen my journey with their own eyes."
Sham never felt the need to sit Vicky or Sunny down for lessons on humility. Instead, life did the talking. 'They didn't have to be told about how hard life is. They've seen me when I owned a motorcycle, and then bought a second-hand Fiat car. I would come home in the evening and cry in front of them if someone had insulted me at work. I think it's foolish for a man to hide his emotions."
Despite working behind the scenes as a stunt coordinator – often considered a 'below-the-line" job in Bollywood – Sham made sure his sons saw the reality of that world. The lack of glam, the long hours, the disrespect that sometimes came with the territory – all of it became part of their upbringing.
'I never put any pressure on my sons. I told them to do what made them happy, the only thing I said to them was, 'Be good human beings'," he said. 'One of the biggest principles in life is that a child will learn what they see around them. Vicky and Sunny saw it all."
Vicky Kaushal, now one of Bollywood's most bankable stars, echoed his father's words on a separate podcast appearance with Raj Shamani. He talked about how growing up in a modest household helped him see the film industry for what it really is.
'When you are born into a family where somebody is working in the film industry, the advantage is that you know the harsh reality of the industry," Vicky said. 'You know that it's not all glitter and glamour and it has a flip side too."
He continued, 'I was born and brought up in a chawl, I have lived in a 10×10 room and I have seen how my parents got furniture one by one and how we have transitioned from small spaces to big spaces. Like how we have moved from chawl to 1BHK then to 2BHK, so that struggle was never hidden from us and I always knew the flip side of this industry and that it isn't easy."
The journey has clearly come full circle. Vicky recently scored the biggest hit of his career with Chhaava, a historical drama that crossed Rs 800 crore worldwide. Meanwhile, Sunny Kaushal was last seen in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba. Vicky is currently shooting with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War.
First Published:
July 20, 2025, 08:05 IST
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