Aishwarya Rai was paid just Rs 5,000 for her first advertisements. A look at her jaw-dropping net worth now

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is today counted among the richest and most influential stars in Hindi cinema, with her personal fortune estimated to exceed Rs 900 crore, according to a report by Siasat.com. However, her journey to the top began far from the glamour and wealth she is now associated with. In the earliest phase of her career, the former Miss World earned only Rs 5,000 for her first set of advertising assignments, a detail that highlights how modest her beginnings truly were.

This lesser-known chapter from Aishwarya’s life was recently revisited by filmmaker and producer Shailendra Singh, who has backed critically acclaimed projects such as Firaaq, Phir Milenge, and Page 3. During a conversation with interviewer Siddharth Kannan, Singh recalled how he first noticed Aishwarya when she was barely out of her teens. According to him, she was around 18 or 19 years old when he saw her at Marine Drive and later met her, accompanied by her parents, late one evening.

Shailendra Singh explained that Aishwarya agreed to work on three advertising projects for a total payment of just Rs 5,000. Her earliest on-camera appearance was as a background performer in a commercial shot at Mukesh Mills, where she played a minor role. This was followed by a Ghrit Kumari Hair Oil advertisement alongside Malvika Tiwari. Soon after, she featured in another commercial that included Arjun Rampal, marking the initial steps of what would later become an extraordinary career.


In the same discussion, Singh also reflected on Aishwarya’s much-discussed past relationship with actor Salman Khan, noting that he was personally acquainted with both at the time. He alluded to a controversial episode from that period, when Salman allegedly created a disturbance outside Aishwarya’s residence late at night. Singh recalled that she was living in a building associated with cricketer Sachin Tendulkar during that phase and mentioned her subsequent appearance at an award event wearing dark sunglasses.

Describing their relationship as intensely emotional, Singh characterized Salman as deeply passionate, while portraying Aishwarya as graceful, dignified, and respectful. He emphasized his admiration for her character and intelligence, calling her an exceptional individual whose strength and brilliance were evident even during challenging times.