From a Rs 500 Birthday Gift to a Lifelong Ethic: Soha Ali Khan Recalls Her Father’s Priceless Financial Lesson

In a heartfelt reflection on her upbringing, actress and author Soha Ali Khan recently shared a poignant childhood memory that fundamentally shaped her approach to money and security. The story, recounted on her popular podcast, All About Her, revolves around a seemingly simple 12th birthday gift from her father, the late Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, which carried a profound and lasting lesson.

A Father’s Strategic Gift

While most children might expect toys or clothes as birthday presents, a young Soha was presented with an unexpected choice. “When I was 12 years old, my father gave me Rs 500 as a birthday present,” Soha recalled. “But here is the interesting part—he offered me a choice. I could spend it however I liked, or I could give that Rs. 500 back and in return, he would give me Rs 50 every October.”

For a pre-teen, Rs 500 in the 1990s was a substantial sum, representing immediate gratification and the freedom to buy anything she desired. The alternative—a delayed, smaller payout—required a level of foresight uncommon for her age. Soha admitted that a part of her decision was driven by a desire to please her father. “I chose the second option because I thought he wanted me to do it,” she said.

The Power of Consistency and Compounding

What followed was not just a kept promise, but a masterclass in financial principles. “He kept his word. So every year, without fail, I got 50 rupees from him in October,” Soha shared. This annual ritual transformed a one-time gift into a continuous lesson. “That small amount,” she explained, “felt like a lesson in saving, and how a small, consistent habit, when compounded over time, grew into something significant.”

Beyond the mathematics, the exercise instilled in her the values of patience and future-oriented thinking. “This taught me the value of saving, the value of planning for the future,” she emphasized. The lesson went far beyond the Rs 50; it was about building a foundational mindset.

A Mindset Forged in Childhood

Soha detailed how this early lesson directly influences her financial behavior today. “I think that I’ve been able to carry that mindset with me,” she stated, outlining practical applications. This includes disciplined habits like treating her credit card as a debit card to avoid debt, ensuring all bills are paid on time to maintain a strong credit history, and meticulously keeping track of her income and expenditures.

“Financial discipline has become a part of who I am today,” Soha concluded, crediting her father’s ingenious birthday present for embedding a sense of responsibility and strategic planning that has served her throughout her life.

Beyond the Podcast: Soha’s Professional Pursuits

On the professional front, the 46-year-old actress, who is married to Bollywood actor and filmmaker Kunal Kemmu, continues to select impactful roles. She was recently seen in the horror drama “Chhorii 2,” where her portrayal of the enigmatic Daasi Maa was widely noted for its chilling intensity.

Directed by Vishal Furia, the film serves as a sequel to the acclaimed 2021 thriller Chhorii. While Nushrratt Bharuccha reprises her lead role, the sequel also features key performances by Gashmeer Mahajani and Saurabh Goyal. Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and Vikram Malhotra, Chhorii 2 made its debut on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video on April 11, 2025.

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