At 17, Rhea Chakraborty was earning Rs 3 lakh. Actress reveals how she spent it on 'fixing' her face

Rhea Chakraborty has come a long way since she started working in showbiz as a teenager. Before making her mark in films and later becoming a reality show contestant, the actor was an MTV VJ who interviewed several well-known celebrities. Now, in a conversation with comedian Tanmay Bhat, Rhea has looked back at her early years in the industry and opened up about earning a surprisingly high salary at a very young age.

Rhea revealed that she was making around Rs 3 lakh as an MTV VJ when she was only 17 or 18. At that age, she felt she had already become financially successful and had plenty of money to spend. However, instead of saving it, she admitted that she used a significant part of her earnings on cosmetic procedures to change her appearance.

Rhea Chakraborty recalls earning Rs 3 lakh as a teenager

Speaking to Tanmay Bhat, Rhea discussed her first years in the entertainment industry and how quickly she became financially independent. She recalled that VJs were paid well at the time and said her final salary at MTV was around Rs 3 lakh.


Rhea admitted that being just 17 or 18 made the amount feel enormous to her. She said, "At that time, a VJ used to get good money. I think Rs 3 lakh was my last salary. But I was also just 17-18 years old, so I really thought I was damn rich. Spent this money on fixing my face."

The actor also spoke about the beauty standards she encountered during her early years in the industry. According to Rhea, there was a time when appearance played a major role in deciding who got the opportunity to speak on television.

She recalled interviewing Salman Khan during her MTV days. Rhea said she was surprised that everyone seemed unusually supportive of her getting the interview, only to later realise that people were hesitant because of the actor's popularity.

Her experience as a VJ gave her an early introduction to the entertainment industry and helped her build confidence in front of the camera before she moved into acting.

From MTV VJ to Bollywood actor

Rhea eventually transitioned from television to films. She made her acting debut with the Telugu film Tuneega Tuneega in 2012. A year later, she entered Bollywood with Mere Dad Ki Maruti.

She subsequently appeared in films such as Sonali Cable, Bank Chor, Jalebi and Dobaaraa: See Your Evil. While her filmography grew, her personal life later became the focus of intense public attention.

Rhea was in a relationship with actor Sushant Singh Rajput, whose death in June 2020 triggered a major investigation and extensive media coverage. Rhea was questioned in connection with the case and was later arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in a drugs-related investigation linked to the matter. She was subsequently granted bail.

The actor has since spoken about the impact of the period on her life and career. She had previously said that she struggled to find work following the intense scrutiny surrounding the case.

Rhea Chakraborty returns to reality television

Rhea gradually returned to the entertainment industry. In 2023, she appeared as a gang leader on MTV Roadies: Karm Ya Kaand, marking a significant return to television after the difficult period. Her professional journey later expanded beyond acting. In 2024, she launched her clothing brand Chapter 2, adding entrepreneurship to her career.

There was also a major development in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. In 2025, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a closure report, saying that it found no evidence to establish that Sushant had been murdered or that Rhea and others had abetted his suicide. A Mumbai court subsequently accepted the closure report.

Rhea is now back in the spotlight as a contestant on the second season of The Traitors. Hosted by Karan Johar, the reality series features a large group of celebrities competing in a game built around trust, strategy and deception.

The show premiered on Prime Video on August 13.