Srk Asked Junior Ambani About His First Salary And Here’s What He Replied

One of the most renowned, successful and rich business company of India, Reliance Industries was initiated by Late Dhirubhai Ambani, after which the company was taken over by Mukesh Ambani on his father’s death. Back in 2017, the Ambanis had thrown a huge party for the successful conduct of the company for 40 continuous in India. The party thrown by the Ambani’s was a lavish one where several celebraties were seen being present, out of which the biggest name in the list was that of the Badshah of Bollywood and the conqueror of million hearts, Shah Rukh Khan. In addition to being present for the huge bash, Shah Rukh was also the host of the whole evening. Being a grand name in himself, Shah Rukh Khan has rightfully established his staunch identity and witty personality through Bollywood Cinema.

Hosting is definitely not an easy task as it requires an indefinite amount of confidence, skill and humour to keep the crowd intersted and engaging towards the programme. In order to fill the void between the audience and the stage, Shah Rukh Khan followed his years of experience and called up Anant Ambani, the eldest son of Mukesh Ambani to the stage in order to keep the crowd engaged.

Shah Rukh Khan recalled moments from his childhood while compelling everyone present there to release their pressures through laughter. Going beyond that, Shah Rukh also had a fun moment with Anant by questioning him about his first salary amount. In the same conversation, the mega star in a witty manner announced that his first salary was just INR 50. Coming forward with a reply to Shah Rukh’s question on Anant’s first salary, here’s what the young lad told him which made the whole audience go bonkers out of laughter.

ShahRukh Khan said “My first salary was INR 50. What was yours Anant?” to which Anant replied “Leave it, you will feel a little embarrassed if I tell you this.”

Srk asked junior ambani about his first salary and here’s what he replied On this hilarious response coming from the side of Anant Ambani, the whole audience let out huge rounds of whistles, laughter and applause.

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The ₹50 Salary vs. The Crore Commission: Why Anant Ambani’s Reply to SRK’s Question Went Viral

Shah Rukh Khan, often hailed as the “King of Bollywood,” is as famous for his self-made success story as he is for his charisma. Anant Ambani, the youngest son of India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, is the face of the nation’s most powerful business dynasty. When these two colossal figures—one a symbol of hustle, the other of inheritance—shared a stage, the result was a moment of viral, witty, and deeply revealing banter about the concept of a “first salary.”

The unforgettable interaction, which continues to resurface years later, perfectly captured the vast economic difference between a self-made superstar and a corporate heir, culminating in Anant Ambani’s sharp and humorous reply that left even the ‘Badshah’ of Bollywood momentarily speechless.

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The Setting: A Grand Corporate Milestone

The moment took place in late 2017 at the magnificent Reliance Family Day event, a grand celebration marking two significant milestones: the 40th anniversary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and the centenary of its legendary founder, Dhirubhai Ambani.

The event was attended by thousands of Reliance employees and a host of national celebrities. Shah Rukh Khan, known for his close ties with the Ambani family and his quick wit as an anchor, was invited to host a segment that introduced Mukesh and Nita Ambani’s three children—Isha, Akash, and Anant—to the broader ‘Reliance family.’

During the segment, which involved playful personal anecdotes and a look into the next generation of Reliance leadership, SRK engaged in a classic piece of friendly banter with the youngest scion, Anant Ambani.

The Question: ₹50 vs. A Fortune

Shah Rukh Khan first shared his own well-known story of humble beginnings, a narrative that has become an integral part of his superstar mythology.

“My first salary was INR 50,” SRK stated, looking at Anant. He then threw the question to the young heir: “What was your first salary, Anant?”

The contrast established was deliberate and powerful: an INR 50 beginning that led to Bollywood’s throne versus the inherited legacy of a multi-billion dollar conglomerate.

Shah Rukh Khan’s Humble Start: The INR 50 Story

Shah Rukh Khan’s ₹50 salary is one of the most famous anecdotes in Indian cinema history, providing a powerful emotional underpinning to his stardom.

• The Job: SRK earned the modest amount as an usher at a Pankaj Udhas concert in Delhi.
• The Splurge: He famously saved the money to take a train to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.
• The Context: This early earning, made before he moved to Mumbai and began his acting career, serves as a poignant reminder of his self-made journey from a middle-class Delhi boy to the world’s richest actor.

The stage was perfectly set for a fun, if slightly uncomfortable, comparison.

Anant Ambani’s Epic Response: “You will feel a little embarrassed”

The silence that followed SRK’s question was quickly filled by Anant Ambani’s surprisingly sharp and viral reply. Anant, instead of naming a figure, dodged the question with a clever retort that instantly brought the house down:

“Leave it. You will feel a little embarrassed if I tell you this.”

The audience erupted in laughter, and even the King Khan, known for his ability to turn any situation to his advantage, had to playfully fold his hands in surrender. In a moment of mock-defeat, SRK exclaimed, “Thank God! Did you hear him, Ranbir? He is not here to give you competition but you guys don’t stop teasing him,” referencing an earlier gag he had with Ranbir Kapoor.

The moment went viral not just for the humour, but because it inverted the expectation. Anant Ambani was essentially suggesting that his ‘first salary’ was so high that it would be embarrassing for a global superstar like SRK to hear.

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The Deeper Meaning: The Ambani Compensation Structure

While the answer was a brilliant piece of stage comedy, the actual corporate structure of the Ambani children’s remuneration at Reliance provides a more complex and fascinating layer to Anant’s reply. This context makes the concept of their “first salary” fundamentally different from that of a salaried employee or an actor.

For years, the Ambani scions, including Anant, have been instrumental in various high-level operations across the conglomerate. However, for a long time, the formal structure of their compensation as non-executive directors on the RIL board was as follows:

• Technical “Nil Salary”: The siblings, like their mother Nita Ambani, were often not paid a conventional, monthly salary.
• Sitting Fees and Commission: Instead, their remuneration consisted of a sitting fee for attending board and committee meetings, and a substantial commission based on the company’s annual net profits.

For instance, the compensation for the Ambani children as non-executive directors in the financial year 2024-25 included a sitting fee and commission that totalled around ₹2.31 crore each—not a monthly salary, but a substantial annual payout determined by the company’s performance.

This financial nuance is the real punchline: the technical first salary may be zero, but the actual first earning (via commission) is in the crores, making Anant’s reply—that revealing the number would be embarrassing for an outsider—a highly accurate and self-aware joke about the sheer scale of the Reliance empire.

The Latest Chapter: Anant Ambani’s Executive Role

In recent years, the Ambani family’s succession planning has formalized their children’s roles, further changing their compensation structure.

Anant Ambani, who oversees key projects in the energy sector, including the New Energy Gigafactories, has transitioned from a non-executive to an Executive Director role in the company.

As an Executive Director, his remuneration package is now structured to be a traditional salary plus commission, with filings indicating that his annual compensation is expected to be in the range of ₹10 crore to ₹20 crore, in addition to perks.

This latest development cements the contrast: Shah Rukh Khan started with ₹50, and Anant Ambani’s formalized starting salary today is counted in the tens of crores.

The question of “first salary,” therefore, remains one of the most enduring examples of the difference between a self-made path and a powerful legacy, proving that even a simple question can unlock a complex and captivating story.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs

Q1: Who is the “Junior Ambani” that Shah Rukh Khan asked about his first salary?

A: The “Junior Ambani” is Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani. The exchange took place during the Reliance Family Day event in late 2017, which celebrated the company’s 40th anniversary.

Q2: What was Anant Ambani’s exact reply to Shah Rukh Khan’s question?

A: Shah Rukh Khan stated his first salary was ₹50 and asked Anant Ambani for his. Anant’s reply was: “Leave it. You will feel a little embarrassed if I tell you this.” The witty answer instantly went viral for its self-aware humour about the vast difference in their starting points.

Q3: How much was Shah Rukh Khan’s first salary?

A: Shah Rukh Khan’s first salary was ₹50. He earned this money as an usher at a Pankaj Udhas concert in Delhi, which he then used to travel to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal.

Q4: What is Anant Ambani’s current position and salary at Reliance?

A: Anant Ambani is a Whole-time Director, designated as an Executive Director, on the board of Reliance Industries. His current remuneration as an Executive Director is expected to be an annual package ranging from ₹10 crore to ₹20 crore, plus a commission on the company’s net profits.

Q5: Did the Ambani children initially take a monthly salary from Reliance?

A: As non-executive directors on the RIL board, the Ambani children (Akash, Isha, and Anant) were initially paid nil salary but received a sitting fee for attending board meetings and a substantial commission on the company’s profits. For instance, in one fiscal year, their total non-executive compensation was around ₹2.31 crore each.