Once she earned Rs 1 lakh per show. Today, actress-VJ reveals why she is getting Rs 1,000 per video: ‘If I charged in thousands…’

During the height of her popularity in the 1990s, Ruby Bhatia was among the most sought-after television faces in India, commanding fees that crossed one lakh rupees for a single hosting assignment. Decades later, reports suggesting that she now earns as little as one thousand rupees per video surprised many and sparked curiosity about her present circumstances. In a candid interaction with Bollywood Thikana, India’s first video jockey finally addressed the speculation surrounding her income and explained the journey that led her to this phase of life.

Looking back at her peak years, Ruby recalled that event anchoring was highly lucrative at the time. Her remuneration for hosting shows regularly touched the one-lakh mark, while her charges for shoots varied based on the scale and budget of each project. However, as the entertainment industry evolved and her personal priorities shifted, she gradually stepped away from the spotlight and embraced a much quieter routine.

For nearly two decades, Ruby lived a largely private life, focusing on her family and day-to-day responsibilities. She was often seen spending time with her loved ones in Lokhandwala, leading a peaceful existence away from the demanding schedules she once knew. The turning point came when she decided to renovate her home, a house that had stood for nearly three decades and needed some basic upkeep. What initially began as a simple plan to repaint and refresh the interiors soon spiralled into a massive renovation project involving multiple workers and constant changes.


The financial burden of the renovation quickly intensified. Ruby found herself spending close to twenty thousand rupees every single day. Midway through the process, the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt. When restrictions eventually eased, she realised that the partially completed work no longer felt cohesive and chose to redo large portions of it. This led to another cycle of mounting daily expenses, draining a significant portion of her savings over time.

Accustomed to a calm lifestyle, Ruby knew she could not return to the long, exhausting twelve-hour shooting schedules of her earlier career. She had responsibilities toward her children, her household, and her own well-being. During one reflective moment while sitting alone in her car, she found herself hoping for an opportunity that would allow her to work remotely, perhaps even over the phone. Her fixed deposits had been used up during the renovation, and she needed a steady source of income to rebuild her financial cushion.

Although she emphasised that she was comfortable and lacked nothing essential, she acknowledged that liquid funds were necessary for long-term security. Around this time, an organisation called WEE approached her to host an event centred on women who were restarting their careers in their fifties. Reading the event script proved transformative. It prompted her to reflect deeply on her own aspirations and helped her recognise that life coaching had always been her true calling.

Ruby realised that, without consciously intending to, she had been guiding and mentoring people since her mid-twenties. Over the years, many women had credited her advice and emotional support as instrumental in their personal and professional growth. Encouraged by this realisation, she decided to formalise her role as a life coach. Today, individuals from different parts of the world reach out to her for guidance, viewing her as a trusted mentor and an empathetic listener.

She deliberately chose to keep her fees minimal. In India, she observed, people are often hesitant to consult mental health professionals but feel comfortable opening up to someone who feels like a friend. By charging only one thousand rupees, she ensured that her services remained accessible to a wide audience rather than being limited to celebrities or the elite.

“If I charged in thousands, only celebrities would approach me. I wanted this to be for everyone, " she said.

Her coaching work now covers areas such as personality development, mindfulness practices, and weight management. She claims to have helped people safely lose weight through natural methods, sharing that she herself has cumulatively shed around five hundred kilos over the years. After each of her pregnancies, she lost thirty kilos, and her programme promotes gradual, healthy weight loss.

Now 51 and with both children grown up, Ruby is also open to selectively returning to offline anchoring assignments. However, she makes it clear that such projects will be taken on at standard industry rates.

Ruby Bhatia’s journey began when she won the Miss India Canada title in 1993 and moved to India the following year to participate in Femina Miss India, the same edition that crowned Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen. She went on to become a familiar face on Channel V, hosting popular shows like BPL Oye! and the Filmfare Awards. She also co-hosted the Miss World 1996 event in Bengaluru and later appeared in television serials and films, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate even as she reinvents herself today.