From working as Amitabh Bachchan's heroine in ‘Bombay To Goa’ to dancing for Rs 2500; Aruna Irani opens up about the downfall in her career

Legendary actress Aruna Irani recently appeared shot for an episode of Rajeev Khandelwal's comeback show, Tum Ho Naa. During the episode, the actress opened up about her journey in the film industry and also recalled her struggles.

Aruna Irani opened up about the most difficult phase of her life when she was out of work for three consecutive years. She also spoke about how once a leading actress, had to dance for just Rs. 2500 to earn a livelihood.

Speaking about the challenging phase of her life where she stayed determined despite the lows and odds, Aruna said, "Jab maine ek 'Bombay to Goa' film ki, 'Caravan' film ki, dono pictures superhit thi. Super Cinema mein jubilee aur Dreamland mein jubilee.” (When I did Bombay to Goa and Caravan, both movies were blockbusters and ran for years in Super Cinema and Dreamland theatres)

She added, “Aur phir achanak se 3 saal tak mere paas koi kaam nahin tha. Aur jab maine kaam shuru kiya, toh kya shuru kiya... ek lavani Marathi picture mein ki. Aur maine yeh himmat se kiya, ‘nahin, mujhe jaana hai, mujhe dekhana hai ki main zinda hoon. Bas studio aise toh jaa ke baith nahin sakti ki bhai, main hoon, aap mujhe lo.’ Toh ek bahaana mil gaya, Bhagwan ne mujhe de diya woh Marathi picture, Dada Kondke ki 'Aandhla Marto Dola'. Toh mujhe apne din yaad aa gaye ki maine bhi uss waqt socha hota ki yeh kaam toh pata nahi kaise karoongi... Main kahan heroine aayi Amitabh ji ke saath aur aaj main lavani kar rahi hoon 2500 rupaye mein. Par maine kaha apne aap se, nahin, jaana hai. Aur wahi jaana mera itna phala ki wahan log mujhe mile.”

(And then suddenly, for three years, I had no work at all. And when I finally started working again, what kind of work did I start with? I performed a lavani in a Marathi film. And I did it with courage. I told myself, ‘No, I have to go. I have to show people that I am still alive. I can’t just sit in a studio and say, “I’m here, please cast me.”’ So God gave me an opportunity through Dada Kondke’s Marathi film ‘Aandhla Marto Dola’. That reminded me of my own journey. At that time, I could have thought, ‘How will I ever do this kind of work? I was once a heroine opposite Amitabh ji, and today I am doing a lavani for Rs 2,500.’ But I told myself, ‘No, I have to go.’ And that decision turned out to be so fruitful because there I met people who would change my career.l)

Aruna further shared how taking that step helped revive her career, saying, “There I met Raj Kohli ji, and from there, work started coming my way again.”

The host of the show, Rajeev praised Arun Irani's journey and pointed out how the veteran actress changed things for herself with hard work. He said, "Look, even after delivering two superhit films, she did not get work. Despite that, she never lost courage. And after that, as we can all learn from her journey, no work is ever too small)

Rajeev Khandelwal also paid tribute to Aruna Irani’s remarkable legacy and unwavering spirit, saying, "We will always remember Aruna ji. For so many years now, whether there were storms, challenges, good times or bad times, she has stood firm through it all for the last 70–71 years. She is known as a great actress, of course, but I think for many people she is also an inspiration, proving that one should never give up. You must not surrender. Everything in life comes to an end one day, but the important thing is never to lose hope and never to give up."

The Raja Babu actress further spoke about her experience of being on Tum Ho Naa, Aruna Irani shared, “In my decades in this industry, I have played many memorable characters, but meeting India's real ‘Ghar Ki Superstars’, everyday women who quietly hold their families together, was truly humbling. Sometimes, all a woman needs is to be seen, heard, acknowledged, and appreciated, and that’s what makes this show so special. It reminded me how extraordinary ordinary women truly are.”

She added, “Behind every home is a woman giving her love, strength, and time without ever expecting any kind of recognition. Watching these women finally have a stage and a moment that belongs entirely to them, where they feel valued and celebrated, was the most beautiful and emotional part of this experience for me. I truly believe every woman carries a strength as pure and powerful as the sacred Ganga, along with a mindset that inspires resilience, compassion, and hope. May every woman continue to shine with that divine energy and grace."