Shehnaaz Gill has opened up about her journey from being one of the lowest paid contestants on Bigg Boss 13 to becoming one of the most recognised names in the entertainment industry. The actor revealed that during her time on the reality show, she earned around Rs 4.5 lakh per week, but her popularity increased massively after the show ended.
In an earlier appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show in 2023, Shehnaaz had spoken about her transformation and said, “Sabse sasti main hi thi aur ab sabse mehengi ban ke nikli hoon.” Since then, she has expanded her career across Hindi and Punjabi entertainment, working in films, music videos and brand endorsements. Her strong social media presence has also helped her build a wider audience.
Speaking exclusively to News18, Shehnaaz said that money plays an important role when she decides to take up a film project. She explained that fair payment is connected with respect for an artist’s work. She said, “Money is very important. It gives you respect. When I ask for what I deserve today, I sometimes get that, sometimes I don’t and sometimes it’s lesser than what I quote for myself. But har kisi ko apne haq ke liye ladna chahiye. I work really hard and I’ve been through a lot to reach the place that I’m in today.”
Shehnaaz also recalled a time when she worked without charging fees, but said she no longer wants to do that. She shared, “Yes, there was a time when I did a lot of work for free. But uski mujhe izzat nahi mili. Maine logo ke liye itna kuch kiya hai! But now, I do fight for what I deserve. I compromise only on occasions when the film that I’ve been offered is really good.”
However, she clarified that she does not select films only based on money. According to Shehnaaz, a strong script and meaningful role matter more than financial benefits. She said, “When it comes to films, I don’t let money come in the way. I know that I can earn money from ads, endorsements and events. For me, cinema is a very pure and precious medium. Main bahot tareeke se films choose karti hoon.”
Talking about improving her skills in the industry, Shehnaaz admitted that she wants to learn how to convince filmmakers to consider her for different roles. She said, “I can’t convince people to cast me in a role. Some people have a lot of convincing power. That’s something I want to learn.”
She also made it clear that she does not want to be part of films only for appearance or glamour. She said, “I don’t want to be in a film only for glamour. I don’t want to be used as a prop.”
Shehnaaz became a household name after Bigg Boss 13, where her bond with late actor Sidharth Shukla became one of the most discussed relationships of the show. Their friendship, popularly known as “SidNaaz,” gained a huge fan following. After Sidharth’s death in 2021, Shehnaaz slowly returned to work and later made her Bollywood debut with Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. She has also appeared in Thank You for Coming and continues to work in Punjabi films.