In a candid revelation that sheds light on the early struggles of their marriage, filmmaker Tahira Kashyap recently shared a deeply personal anecdote about a time when she was “so angry” with her husband, actor Ayushmann Khurrana, for his unwitting ignorance of their financial situation. This eye-opening moment occurred when Tahira had used all her personal savings to keep their household afloat, a fact Ayushmann remained oblivious to.
The couple, who married in 2008 when they were both just 24, moved to Mumbai as young newlyweds. While Ayushmann was embarking on his journey as a VJ, Tahira found herself without a stable job in the bustling city. Having always been financially independent, she naturally took on the responsibility of managing their daily expenses, including groceries, relying solely on her pre-existing savings.
For nearly a year, Tahira silently shouldered this burden, watching her bank balance steadily deplete until it hit zero. “I had spent some money on my wedding, but I had my own savings. But, I didn’t have a job in Mumbai. My bank balance was depleting,” she recounted in a recent interview. The emotional strain of this responsibility, coupled with her husband’s unawareness, began to take its toll.
The pivotal moment arrived when Ayushmann innocently asked her why she hadn’t bought mangoes. This seemingly simple question, Tahira revealed, pushed her to the brink. She had been deliberately avoiding eating mangoes herself for two days, ensuring he could enjoy them, a small sacrifice in their constrained circumstances. His query, completely oblivious to her quiet struggle, ignited a wave of pent-up frustration.
“I was so angry because he didn’t notice that I wasn’t eating mangoes for two days, so he could eat,” Tahira shared, recalling how she broke down in tears. “He asked, ‘What’s the problem?’ And I just started crying. I asked, ‘How do you think we are buying groceries?’ He was like, ‘Oh yeah’. I said, ‘My bank balance is zero. It’s been 7-8 months, and I am trying to figure out jobs, and we are spending only my savings’.”
It was in this raw and emotional confrontation that Ayushmann finally grasped the extent of her sacrifices. He questioned why she hadn’t asked for financial help, to which Tahira explained her deeply ingrained independence and the expectation that financial responsibilities should be shared. By then, Ayushmann’s career as a VJ was beginning to take off, marking the turning point where he could actively contribute.
This deeply personal story highlights the often-unseen challenges faced by couples in the early stages of their journey, especially when navigating career beginnings and financial uncertainties. Tahira and Ayushmann’s relationship, built on a foundation of school-day romance, has clearly weathered its share of storms, growing stronger through open communication and mutual understanding, even if that understanding sometimes came through a moment of heartfelt frustration.