From Growing Up Amid Curfews in Kashmir to Earning Rs 2.5 Lakh a Day
Aly Goni, known for his roles in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, Bigg Boss 14, and Khatron Ke Khiladi, has had a challenging journey to success. In an old podcast interview with Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa, the actor opened up about his struggles growing up in Kashmir under curfew, his early modelling jobs in Mumbai, and his rise to earning Rs 2.5 lakh per day.
Running Away from Home at 19
I ran away from home and came to Mumbai when I was just 19, leaving my studies midway. Initially, I was fascinated by the idea of living in Mumbai, dreaming about the city's lifestyle, excitement, and parties. One day, while sitting in my hostel room, I suddenly decided to move to Mumbai without much thought. I had a second-hand car gifted by my father, which I customised and was very attached to. Although it was worth around Rs 2 to 2.5 lakh, I sold it for just Rs 70,000 because I needed money. My parents wanted me to complete my studies before moving to Mumbai and were not in favour of my decision. After that, I did modelling in Delhi for some time, but the experience was not easy and came with many challenges.
Childhood Under Curfew in Kashmir
I come from Jammu and Kashmir, and life there was very different when I was growing up. Today, I feel very happy when I see many young people from Kashmir pursuing careers in acting, singing, and other fields. However, my childhood was not easy as we had to live under curfew. Things have improved for the younger generation now, but my early years in Bhadarwah were filled with challenges.
Birth During an Encounter
I was born in 1991, a difficult time in Kashmir. On the day I was born, an armed encounter was taking place near the hospital. Only my mother and one relative were with her, while the rest of the family was unable to leave home because of the curfew. Since phone services were not working, no one outside the hospital knew about my birth. The early 1990s were a difficult time in Kashmir, with violence and unrest affecting daily life.
School Attendance Limited by Curfews
We faced a difficult time while growing up in Bhadarwah. We could only go to school twice a week due to curfews. Then my father decided to shift to Jammu to give us a normal and calmer life. He knew we could not have a good life in Bhadarwah. After we shifted to Jammu, I started going to school and meeting new people.
Staying Indoors Due to Attacks
Before moving to Jammu, we did not know anything about a normal life. My sister and I stayed home most of the time because of frequent attacks and blasts. This made our parents worried for our safety. We barely went outside. While Bhadarwah is now a popular tourist destination, it was not safe in the 90s. After we moved to Jammu, I got the chance to explore new activities like learning dance, and I even earned a black belt in Taekwondo. I often wonder where I would be today if my father had not made the decision to move our family to Jammu.
Father's Sacrifice
It was not an easy decision for my father to move us to Jammu as he had to leave behind his factory and everything we had in Bhadarwah. It was a difficult phase and a big sacrifice. Many people believe that only Kashmiri Pandits were affected during that time, but several other families also had to leave their homes for the safety of their children. My parents wanted to protect us from the difficult situation, so we moved away. Starting over was not easy, and it took us years to rebuild our lives.
The Importance of Money
I have seen my parents struggle financially, and that made me understand the value of money at a young age. Many people say money cannot buy happiness, but for me, it is important because I have seen my parents find it difficult to arrange even Rs 5,000 for my school fees. My goal has always been to give my family a comfortable and secure life. When I moved to Mumbai, I did not inform anyone, not even my cousins. I lived in a small apartment with a Kashmiri friend, who is also my business partner now. I stayed in an old building in Oshiwara in a flat with 10-12 boys. It was a PG. My father got to know from my college and he called me. He did not scold me, he just told me to handle things on my own now. Don't come back. Today, I am thankful for what I have achieved and focus on staying happy and positive rather than living a depressed life.
Struggles in Mumbai
Today, people have social media platforms to earn money, they are not dependent on anyone. But while we came to Mumbai, we did not have any such resource. I used to take on costume shoots, earning just Rs 150 per shoot. Asim Riaz was also with me during those days. We would change clothes many times and do multiple shoots in a day to earn more money. Sometimes, we didn't eat the whole day because we wanted to complete as many shoots as possible and earn around Rs 5,000. A few times, we even fainted because of hunger. Some photographers would ask us to leave, but we still managed to get work and grab attention.
Earning Rs 2.5 Lakh Per Day
It took me nearly 11 to 12 years to build my career and buy a house and a car. That's why I feel people should understand that success does not come overnight. These days, television pays well, and if I take up a daily show, I can earn around Rs 2.5 lakh per day. Dhai lakh per day milna matlab main agar din mein 25 days bhi shoot karta hoon toh main 60-70 lakh ek mahine ka kama raha hoon. But over time, I have realised that money is not everything. Family, relationships and good health are also important. Right now, I am doing a weekly TV show, which gives me enough time to balance both work and personal life.
Building a Business
My main focus and goal are my business. I meet new people every day because I believe that dedicating four years to my business will enable me to produce two films. I've noticed significant progress since I started. I've also registered my business in Canada, and the packaging we're doing here now, we will soon manufacture our own clothes. My business is attracting people from various countries.
