Financial support, and who shall be the one to provide it in the family, has been one of the most debated topics in our patriarchal society. It has been told and accepted that it is a man’s primary duty to earn and support his family financially. And when a situation arises that doesn’t conform to this gender norm, it is usually met with ridicule, and a wounded ‘male ego’. If a man is not the breadwinner of the family, his entire masculinity is brought into question. And, slowly using “biwi ki kamai” (wife’s salary) to fulfil financial duties of the family, somehow turned into a derogatory remark as well.
Also, let’s be honest. These unnecessary expectations are not just limited to marriage. As early as in the dating phase, if the woman pays for dinner, it is perceived as an insult on her partner’s ability to be ‘the man’ and provide for her. This leaves many to question or label the woman as being “too independent” or “feminist.”
But these expectations are slowly crumbling away as the husbands are coming forth and acknowledging their wives’ monetary contributions with equal pride and humility. The claims that their own success would have never been possible without the emotional as well as financial support of their wives is paving the way for a more open-minded society. Here are some such amazing examples from our society itself, where Celebrity men, from the world of business and Bollywood, have openly appreciated how their wives supported them financially through difficult times. Some even turned into primary breadwinners and providers for their families, so that these men can fulfill their dreams and ambitions.
From Business Titans to Bollywood Stars who openly acknowledged their wives’ financial support during their struggles
Narayan & Sudha Murthy
Founder of Infosys, Narayana Murthy took the help of his wife, Sudha Murthy when his first business venture failed. She had given him ₹10,000 in 1981 with the sole purpose that he didn’t have any regrets.
According to Sudha, having regrets would’ve been worse, and she wanted her husband to have one more chance, even if it ended in failure. Narayana Murthy said during a speech that he was very lucky to have the support of his wife, and recounted the story of how he’d told her that he’d resigned on her birthday. Her response was only to smile and tell him that they will make do within the means they have, and that she believes he will succeed.
Bhavish and Rajalakshmi Aggarwal
Another similar story comes from the founder of Ola, Bhavish Aggarwal and his wife Rajalakshmi Aggarwal. In the earlier stages of his company being established, he had to borrow his wife’s car to complete the requests that he received. When his company went public, he took to X (previously Twitter) to thank his wife “who made everything seem possible and achievable, with so much grace.”
Vikrant Massey and Sheetal Thakur
Vikrant Massey, starring in biographical dramas like 12th Fail (2023), opened up about the time in his life when his wife, Sheetal Thakur, supported his decisions emotionally and financially. He was being paid handsomely when he was working in TV; but as he wanted to pursue acting in movies, he took the decision to quit TV. Within a year, when his savings were exhausted, his wife, Sheetal Thakur, had taken on the responsibility of managing everything so her husband could have a shot at his dreams.
Pankaj Tripathi and Mridula Tripathi
Pankaj Tripathi was unemployed for 8 years before he bagged a role in Gangs Of Wasseypur (2012), during which his wife Mridula Tripathi took on the role of the provider for their family. He talks about how grateful he is that he didn’t have to sleep on the platforms at Andheri railway station because his wife had his back.
Manish Paul and Sanyukta Paul
One of the most renowned comics and anchors, Manish Paul, opened up about how during his struggling days, especially in 2008, he didn’t even have the money to pay the house rent. His wife, Sanyukta Paul, took on all the responsibilities and also gave him the emotional support he’d needed at the time. Manish said in the Humans of Bombay interview that the year when he had no earnings was the hardest and he nearly gave up but his wife would comfort him and ask him to be patient because he’d find success soon. And he did.
You might also like to read: Mental Health in Relationships – Experts tell us how to support your partner when they are struggling
Sharib Hashmi and Nasreen Hashmi
Sharib Hashmi, known for his role J.K. Talpade in Amazon Prime’s The Family Man, talked about how his wife, Nasreen Hashmi, had supported him in his journey. She had decided to become a homemaker when their son was born, but as the finances became depleted, she took on a job again to provide financial support for the family.
Ayushmann Khurrana and Tahira Kashyap
Ayushmann Khurrana married Tahira Kashyap while he was still struggling to make it in Bollywood. He said that Tahira was “gutsy” to get married to a man only because of love and her faith in his talent. “She supported me in every possible way. I was a struggling actor, which is often a gamble. Most men in India aren’t secure enough to be comfortable with such an arrangement,” Ayushmann said in an interview, openly acknowledging her support.
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan
Shah Rukh Khan has openly acknowledged that he has depended on his wife, Gauri Khan, for financial support. He had the similar story in the early days of his acting career, but on a talk show, he easily admitted that his wife was the sole earning member during the pandemic. He joked, “My chartered accountant called and said ‘Why don’t you learn something from your wife? She is the only profitable member right now in the house.’”
These are the stories that have come into the limelight since the people involved were public figures. There may be countless other scenarios where the men are not ashamed of relying on their wives and foregoing the gender norms put in place a long time ago. With husbands coming forth and openly talking about their wives being equal, equality might not be as far away.
Also Read: Marriage Penalty – Are Indian Women paying for their Marriage by leaving their Career behind?