Farah Khan reveals how Kajol’s uncle, director Ayan Mukerji's father was responsible for her family's poverty: ‘On Monday, we became poor…’

Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan recently visited Bollywood star Kajol’s sister Tanishaa Mukerji’s Mumbai home with her man Friday Dilip. While exploring her palatial house, Khan opened up on facing financial difficulties as a child. She even shared a hilarious anecdote on how Tanishaa’s cousin, director Ayan Mukerji’s father, late actor Deb Mukherjee was responsible for leading her family to financial ruin.

“I always tell Ayan Mukerji that because of his dad, hum gareeb hue the (we became poor). Because my dad made his first big colour film with Deb Mukherjee was the hero, and it bombed at the box office on Friday, and on Monday, we became poor,” she quipped.

She was referring to the 1971 film Aisa Bhi Hota Hai, helmed by Kamran Khan and featuring actors Nandita Bose, Tun Tun, and Jalal Agha in key roles.


Farah went on to describe how filmmaking in earlier decades was far more financially risky, as directors and producers frequently used their own money to fund projects. Unlike the present-day industry, where major studios and corporate houses largely finance movies, filmmakers back then often depended on personal resources.

Tanishaa sympathised with Farah, revealing they too underwent financial crisis when the movies produced by her father Shomu Mukherji’s did not fare well at the box-office.

“She said, “We also went through these phases jab daddy ki pictures aati thi, chalti thi or nahi chalti thi toh we used to be poor for 2 years - 3 years,” she said.

Ayan Mukerji is a popular director today known for delivering hits such as Wake Up Sid, Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani etc.

Farah Khan, known for helming blockbuster movies such as Om Shanti Om, Main Hoon Na, transitioned to a YouTube career in 2024. Her cooking vlogs have become a huge hit with the audience. She has over 2.9 million subscribers on YouTube.