Mumbai: Bigg Boss 20 contestant Rhiti Tiwari, daughter of actor-turned-politician Manoj Tiwari, has opened up about her childhood, her relationship with her father and the financial independence she says she had to develop while growing up.
During a recent episode, Rhiti discussed her parents’ divorce and said she did not grow up with regular access to her father’s wealth or professional opportunities. She also spoke about receiving a monthly allowance of around Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000, claiming that she had to manage her personal expenses within that amount.
Her comments have since triggered a debate online, with some social-media users questioning her description of financial hardship and comparing her experience with the economic realities faced by other Indians.
Rhiti Tiwari Says She Didn’t Benefit From Her Father’s Wealth
While discussing her upbringing inside the Bigg Boss 20 house, Rhiti said that she did not receive the financial benefits that people might associate with being the daughter of a well-known public figure.
According to Rhiti, the primary advantage she received from her father was his name and the recognition associated with it.
She said:
“The things he has earned- his wealth, money, name, fame and opportunities- none of that came to me. What I got from him is his name, which gives me respect whenever I walk into a room.”
Rhiti also said that Manoj Tiwari had made it clear that he would not build her career for her.
According to her account, her father told her that if she had the ability to succeed, she would have to establish herself independently rather than rely on his professional connections.
“If you have it in you, you will make it on your own. I’m not going to do it for you.”
She added that she did not have enough money for everything she wanted to pursue and said her father would not simply provide money whenever she asked for it.
Rhiti Says She Managed Her Expenses With Rs 20,000-25,000
Rhiti further spoke about the allowance she received while growing up.
She claimed that she was given approximately Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per month and had to manage her expenses within that budget.
Describing her experience, she said:
“I used to get a monthly allowance of 20,000-25,000. And do you think anyone can get through a month with that? Main kabhi kabhi din mein 10 rupay ka vada pav khaati hoon taaki pet bhar jaaye. 500 rupay ka disel bharwaati hoon, jitna zarurat hai bus.”
Rhiti’s remarks were intended to explain why she does not identify herself as someone who grew up with unlimited financial privilege, despite her father’s public profile.
She also said that people assume she grew up with a “very big silver spoon,” but argued that her personal experience was different.
Social Media Questions Rhiti’s Definition of Struggle
The comments quickly spread across social media, where viewers offered sharply different reactions.
Some users questioned whether receiving a monthly allowance of Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 could reasonably be described as financial hardship, particularly when compared with average household incomes and expenses.
One user wrote:
“Yeh kis type ki gareebi hai?”
Another commented:
“Are you nuts? 25000 is average salary of Indians. It’s illogical you are just making fun of yourself.”
A different user described Rhiti as a “new nepo struggler in market,” while another made a comparison with actress Ananya Panday’s previously discussed comments about privilege and struggle.
These reactions reflect the opinions of individual social-media users and do not establish whether Rhiti’s personal account of her upbringing was accurate or inaccurate.
Rhiti’s Relationship With Manoj Tiwari
Rhiti also discussed her relationship with her father following her parents’ separation.
According to her account, Manoj Tiwari did not live with her after the divorce, and she said her opportunities to meet him were limited, including a claim that she could see him only around once a year.
She said that after turning 18, she consciously tried to develop a closer relationship with him.
Her comments offered viewers a glimpse into a more personal aspect of her family life, separate from her identity as the daughter of a prominent actor and politician.
Manoj Tiwari’s Family
Manoj Tiwari married Rani Tiwari in 1999, and the couple have a daughter, Rhiti. Their marriage eventually ended, and they divorced in 2012 after more than a decade together.
Tiwari later married Surabhi Tiwari in April 2020. The couple have two daughters, born in 2020 and 2022.
Manoj Tiwari is therefore the father of three daughters.
Bigg Boss 20: Rhiti’s Comments Become a Talking Point
Rhiti Tiwari’s discussion about money and privilege has become another talking point around Bigg Boss 20. While she presented her childhood as one in which she had to learn financial independence and could not rely on her father’s wealth or career, some viewers have interpreted the same comments differently.
The debate ultimately highlights the difference between an individual’s personal experience of financial restriction and the broader economic meaning audiences may attach to terms such as “struggle” or “privilege.”
As Bigg Boss 20 continues, Rhiti’s personal revelations are likely to remain part of the conversation surrounding her journey on the reality show.
