Actor Rhea Chakraborty has come a long way since beginning her career as an MTV VJ as a teenager. Before venturing into acting and later launching her clothing brand Chapter 2 in 2024, Rhea worked as a video jockey and interviewed several celebrities. In a recent chat with Tanmay Bhat on his YouTube channel, the actor recalled her early days in the industry and revealed that she was earning a hefty ₹3 lakh as an MTV VJ by the time she was 17 or 18.
Rhea Chakraborty on spending her VJ salary on beauty treatment
When Rhea was asked who the first celebrity she met was, she revealed that it was Salman Khan. Recalling her experience of interviewing him, she said, “I was a VJ on MTV. Everyone allowed me to do his interview and I didn’t know why they were being so nice but it was because everyone was scared. There was a time when only good-looking people were allowed to speak.”
She went on to reveal how much she earned as a VJ. “At that time, a VJ used to get good money. I think ₹3 lakh was my last salary. But I was also just 17-18 years old, so I really thought I was damn rich. Spent this money on fixing my face,” she said. When Tanmay asked if he should also get his face “fixed”, Rhea replied that everyone should get it done, adding that the technology is “next level” now.
About Rhea Chakraborty
Rhea Chakraborty began her career as a VJ before making her acting debut with the Telugu film Tuneega Tuneega in 2012. She later entered Bollywood with Mere Dad Ki Maruti in 2013 and went on to feature in films such as Sonali Cable, Dobaaraa: See Your Evil, Jalebi and Bank Chor.
Her personal life, however, brought her unprecedented media attention. Rhea’s relationship with actor Sushant Singh Rajput came under intense public scrutiny following his death in June 2020. She faced allegations and extensive media coverage in connection with the case and was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau in a drugs-related investigation. She was subsequently granted bail.
In 2025, the Central Bureau of Investigation filed a closure report in the case, concluding that there was no evidence to establish that Sushant had been murdered or that Rhea and others had abetted his suicide. A Mumbai court subsequently accepted the closure report.
Following the intense scrutiny, Rhea revealed that she had stopped getting work. She later returned to the entertainment space in 2023 as a gang leader on the reality show Roadies: Karm Ya Kaand, and has since remained active through podcasts, interviews and public appearances.
Rhea Chakraborty’s upcoming work
Rhea will next be seen in the second season of the reality show The Traitors. Hosted by Karan Johar, the show features 21 celebrities, including Mallika Sherawat, Munawar Faruqui, Shweta Tiwari, Abhishek Malhan, Krystle D’Souza, Parul Gulati, Dalip Tahil, Shahneel Gill, Shalini Passi, Ranveer Brar, Aaditya Kulshreshth, Harman Baweja, Prish, Rida Tharana, Soundous Moufakir and rapper Ikka. The show will premiere on Prime Video on August 13.