Sonu Sood’s 1st investment was a Rs 33 lakh home | Economic Times

Actor Sonu Sood on what money means to him and why he tries to give away as much as he can:“The biggest lesson I’ve learnt in 2020 is that the more I spend on other people, the more it comes back to me. In my 20-year career, I haven’t had as many brands approach me as I have in the last six months. I’ve decided that anything I’ve earned from these endorsements, I won’t take back home, but give it to the people.“I’ve converted all my fees into CSR activities. For example, if a light brand came, I said let’s light 20 villages. If a paint brand came, I said let’s paint 20 villages. If someone else comes, let’s give them e-rickshaws. Anything I deserve to get because of my popularity, has to go to the poor.”What my parents taught me“I don’t plan how much to give away, I just go all out. It’s something I learnt as a child. My mother was a professor who taught kids free of cost all her life and my father would hold a langar every week. As a kid, I served those people and felt happy seeing their smiles or watching the crowds come to get food.“Through that, my parents taught me that the only way to get happiness is to give back to society. When the pandemic came, the number of individuals who needed support multiplied in millions and I knew it was my responsibility to help.”Giving pledge“A lot of people want to help, but that feeling is momentary; then they get busy with their lives. If you really want to help someone, make it a part of your life. Only then, things will change.“I don’t believe in numbers. It’s easy to say that if you’re financially secure, you should give 10 per cent of what you earn to the poor. Instead of deciding on a number, try to bring a smile to just one person’s face. You could adopt a child’s education or sponsor someone in an old age home. Once you do it, you realise how infectious giving back is.”Money can’t buy happiness…“But it can introduce you to yourself. When a normal person becomes rich, there are chances that they will forget about their roots and it changes them as an individual. But if you’re able to use money wisely, it can also keep you connected to your roots and to your soul. I’ve seen money change a lot of people but I’ve also seen it bring a lot of happiness to some lives.“When it comes to my money, I follow my instincts. My father was very good with business. He had a shop that did well in Punjab and I used to spend time with him there. The way he used to deal with the customers, the way he used to invest, how he managed money — those are the lessons that have guided my financial decisions.”Betting on real estate“Money isn’t something you should plan. You can’t say, ‘This year, I have to earn so much.’ It never happens, especially in a place like Mumbai. Instead, you have to be financially secure. In cinema, you can do one movie in a year or two. So it’s really important to plan your investments and liquidate it when needed, so you can survive the lean months. I feel everyone will value money more now.“I don’t plan my finances as such but I feel safe investing in real estate. So if something nice comes up, I always try to explore that. My first investment was in real estate. I purchased the flat I’m currently living in for about Rs 33 lakh.”Pandemic lessons“The pandemic has taught us that things are material. Spending money on shopping or on all these fancy cars, it’s just materialistic. When I speak to friends or people in the industry, they say the pandemic has taught them how to do their investments correctly or how to plan ahead. That’s what people have learnt sitting at home going through tough times. In 2021, there will be more of a zeal to bounce back than to just sit back and wait for things to happen.” Budget wishlist“Every year, people wait eagerly for the budget but somehow, things are not changing in the way it should. The government has to take important steps to make the common man believe that he can survive, even in these tough conditions. There have to be certain plans put in place through which employment can be derived, not only for blue-collar workers but also well-qualified people who are still waiting for that one call. Creating employment opportunities is the only way we can bounce back.”77189412