‘Used to earn Rs 1 lakh per show. Things are not same anymore’: India’s first VJ on fame, burnout and family

After winning Miss India Canada, Ruby Bhatia relocated to Mumbai to pursue opportunities in the entertainment industry. She began with modelling before carving out a groundbreaking space for herself as India’s first video jockey, quickly becoming a familiar face on television. Over the years, she hosted popular programs like BPL Oye, the Filmfare Awards, and several major events, establishing herself as a prominent media personality. Today, her life has taken a very different direction. Moving away from the glamour of showbiz, Bhatia now focuses on life coaching, embracing a more purpose-driven path. Once earning nearly Rs 1 lakh per appearance, she now charges approximately Rs 1,000 per reel.

Ruby Bhatia on walking away from fame

Ruby Bhatia, 52, recently appeared on the Verinteresting Podcast, where she opened her heart out on topics like fame, exhaustion and leading a peaceful family life has become her priority now. Reflecting on her career shift, she shared that during her 20s, she was earning lakhs, with around Rs 1 lakh being charged per show, while many of her contemporaries today continue to command even higher fees for anchoring events.


Ruby Bhatia, however, acknowledged that returning to that demanding lifestyle would require sacrificing valuable time with her children and family, something she is no longer willing to do. She described the glamorous world of constant appearances, social obligations, and industry networking as a life she could still pursue, but one that no longer aligns with her present values.



Further in the conversation, Ruby Bhatia revealed that significant personal changes, including shifting priorities, age-related factors, and a nervous breakdown during the pandemic, transformed her perspective entirely. The sharpness and relentless drive that once defined her entertainment career faded, with Bhatia admitting that she no longer identifies with the person she once was.

Rubu Bhatia shares her current income

Explaining her transition into life coaching, Ruby Bhatia expressed that the energy required for large-scale hosting events became deeply draining over time. After years of giving so much of herself professionally, her energy stooped dangerously, often leaving her irritable while still needing to fulfil family responsibilities.

At this stage of life, Ruby Bhatia said that greater meaning and emotional fulfilment have taken precedence over high-paying glamour projects. Her long-standing work in guiding women through life coaching, often done informally for years, has now become a more intentional career path.

Discussing her current business model, Ruby Bhatia explained that her pricing has been intentionally kept affordable. She revealed that charging Rs 1 lakh would no longer be practical, so her programs are now priced at Rs 1,000 for a one-month starting program, Rs 3,000 for six months, and Rs 5,000 for a year. According to her, even securing two or three clients a day at Rs 1,000 each can generate approximately Rs 1 lakh a month, which she considers sufficient for her present lifestyle.

In conclusion, Ruby Bhatia explained that smaller online sessions earning Rs 1,000–2,000 were enough to cover daily expenses, while larger assets such as property, fixed deposits, a house, and a car have already been secured through earlier financial success. This income, she noted, primarily supports additional personal and household needs.