Childhood experiences around money often leave a lasting imprint, shaping how people view security, success, and even relationships later in life. Speaking about his early years, actor Varun Dhawan shared that his upbringing was rooted more in emotional warmth than material comfort. He said, “Mujhe bachpan mein pyaar bahut mila as compared to wealth (I received a lot of love in childhood compared to wealth). Because we were not very well-to-do as we became later. We were very lower middle class because my dad’s career hadn’t taken off to that level.” His recollection highlights a period when financial constraints coexisted with a strong sense of family bonds.. He also spoke about how day-to-day life was shaped by his father’s demanding work schedule and the uncertainty that came with it. “Aap zameen pe sula lo yaa bed pe (Make me sleep on bed or floor), it didn’t matter. Papa toh ghar pe hote hi nahi the (Papa wasn’t at home much). He was working around the clock, doing 2 movies at a time. Mumma keh deti thi yeh khaana jo tum khaa rahe ho yeh papa kaam kar rahe hain isliye khaa rahe ho, aise dialogues sunane mil jaate the. Yaa koi film nahi chali toh Dad ki yeh film nahi chali, ab aage pata nahi kya karenge, so you have to cut down on your expenses (My mother used to say, ‘The food you’re eating is because your father is working and earning for it,’ so we often got to hear dialogues like that. Or if one of his films didn’t do well, it would be like, ‘Your dad’s film hasn’t worked, and now we don’t know what he’ll do next, so you have to cut down on your expenses).”. This raises important questions about how such experiences influence a person’s mindset, sense of stability, and relationship with money as they grow older.. How growing up in a financially unstable household shapes a child’s emotional development. Counselling psychologist Athul Raj tells indianexpress.com, “In many lower middle class homes, a child learns about money without anyone spelling it out. It sits in the background of daily life. A purchase delayed, a conversation cut short, a visible shift in a parent’s mood after a setback. The child registers all of this quietly. Over time, they begin to adjust themselves. They ask for less, they become more watchful, more accommodating. There is an early understanding that comfort is not guaranteed, that it can change.”. “In my sessions, this often comes up much later, not as a memory people immediately connect to money, but as a lingering discomfort around ease,” mentions Raj, adding that even when life is stable, there can be a sense that it may not last. Some respond by holding on tightly, others by trying to create ease through spending. But in both cases, the response is shaped less by the present and more by what was felt growing up.. Openly communicating financial stress. Children are capable of understanding limits. Raj explains, “What affects them more deeply is the emotional c
