Ishaan Khatter opened up about his middle-class upbringing and how his single mother, Neelima Azeem, pulled their family out of financial struggle. The actor recalled not being able to afford studying abroad and shared how those experiences shaped his values
Ishaan Khatter
Actor Ishaan Khatter, who was last seen in Homebound, recently opened up about his humble beginnings and the financial struggles his family faced during his childhood. Raised by a single mother, Ishaan reflected on growing up in a middle-class home and how his mother, actor Neelima Azeem, worked hard to give him and his family a better life. Speaking to journalist Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story, Ishaan, son of Neelima Azeem and Rajesh Khatter, shared that his academic life changed after his parents’ separation. “I enjoyed studies up to a point, but after my parents’ separation, I wasn’t as academic as I used to be,” he said.
‘We couldn’t afford to study abroad’
Talking about his family’s financial hardships, Ishaan recalled, “My family hit rock bottom financially when I was three or four. I was very young, but that’s where it begins. We were lucky because my mom worked, she did a TV show in Delhi for three months and got us out of that place.”
He added, “I was raised in a middle-class household. We couldn’t afford to study abroad. But we always found a way to move forward.”
Despite his modest upbringing, Ishaan acknowledged his privilege within the film industry. “We’re the 0.1 per cent. Even if you’re an outsider, once you’ve made it in the industry, you’re practically an insider. Our privilege is beyond what we understand,” he said.
Credits his mother for her strength
The Dhadak actor praised his mother for her strength and sacrifices. “Anybody who has been raised by a single mother realises that they are superhuman. It’s hard enough being a working mom, and being a working mom who is also a single mom. By the time my brother grew up and was able to take care of himself, I was born — she had to do it twice over,” Ishaan said.
He continued, “She sacrificed most of who she was to put the mother first. That has shaped how I see the world and my point of view of women.”
He added, “She sacrificed most of who she was to put the mother first. That has shaped how I see the world, and my point of view of women."
Ishaan reveals his first salary
In an earlier interview with mid-day, Ishaan revealed how much he earned for his debut film Beyond the Clouds. “For me at that time, it was a very big deal. I started with about Rs 10 lakh for Beyond the Clouds. That’s a significant amount more than actors would get 30 years ago, considering inflation and everything.”
Reflecting on his early career, he added, “At 21, I had started earning and could contribute to the family. My brother was the main earning member at that point. It felt great, it really boosted my confidence. But I also had to train my mind to adapt to the business side of things.”
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