Farah Khan reacts to earning more than husband Shirish Kunder, recalls surviving 12 years of extreme failures and successes: ‘We truly are equals’ |
Farah Khan is one of Bollywood’s most well-known faces, be it as a choreographer or a director. From creating iconic dance numbers to delivering blockbuster films, she has carved a place for herself in the industry. In 2004, she married her boyfriend and professional collaborator Shirish Kunder. While Farah’s career soared with hits like ‘Main Hoon Na’ and ‘Om Shanti Om’, Shirish, despite his talent, couldn’t match her success as a director.
Farah Khan became a hit director quickly
Farah was already an ace choreographer before her wedding, but her career took a dramatic turn after she became a director. Her debut, ‘Main Hoon Na’, starring Shah Rukh Khan, became a huge hit. She followed it with another big success, ‘Om Shanti Om’ (2007), again featuring Shah Rukh.Shirish, who had been the editor on her films, tried his hand at directing too. His films ‘Jaan-E-Mann’ (2006) and ‘Joker’ (2012) didn’t achieve the same success. Yet, Farah insists that in their marriage, they remain equals. “He bears the brunt of being married to me. We’ve survived 12 years of extreme failures and extreme successes. So, I give him a lot of credit because he has to bear the brunt of being married to me,” Farah said in an interview with Zee Cafe.
Farah Khan emphasises equality despite income differences
Farah was clear that their relationship doesn’t suffer due to financial differences. “That Abhimaan factor never comes in,” she added, referring to Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s 1973 film ‘Abhimaan’, where a husband becomes envious of his wife’s success. “These feminists talk a lot. But we truly are equals. I never feel, ‘Oh, I’m earning more, but my husband is not.’ No! Why? We’re equal partners,” she said.
Early career tension existed between them
Farah admitted that in the early years of their marriage, the difference in recognition sometimes created tension. “When I used to choreograph his songs, people used to automatically look at me after the shot got over. It’s very demeaning to a director. So, we resolved that and decided to not work with each other. You do your own thing,” she explained.
Contrasting personalities balance their married life
Farah is very extroverted, while Shirish is quite the opposite. “He’s very reticent and a loner, I’d say. He’d talk to a very few people,” she said. Despite her outgoing nature, Farah acknowledged that she also has to bear the brunt of public criticism. She often faces judgement for the professional failures of her husband and her brother, Sajid Khan.
She protects family from public criticism frequently
“I’m judged for a ‘Himmatwala’ (2013, film directed by Sajid). But I didn’t make that movie. ‘Give ‘Joker’s’ money back!’ I didn’t make that. You can ask that for ‘Tees Maar Khan’ (2010), I made that. Also, I’m very protective about them. I’ve been very protective of Sajid since childhood. I’m very protective of Shirish. But you have to detach. If you understand people here, it’s a matter of time. If a movie Shirish makes does well, things will change. It’s a very success-driven industry,” Farah added.
Farah Khan transitions into content creation
Currently, Farah has stepped into the world of content creation. She runs a YouTube channel with her cook, Dilip, where they visit celebrities’ homes, give fans a tour, cook food together, and share stories. This allows her to stay connected with her audience while pursuing creative freedom outside films.
