Tarannum Khan gained fame in 2003 as the bar dancer whom Abdul Karim Telgi, a notorious counterfeiter, fell in love with. |
She was raised in a Muslim family in Mumbai and lived with her parents and siblings in Andheri where her father ran a small shop. |
Her family faced hardships after their home was robbed during the 1992 Bombay riots, forcing them to live in a relief camp and later on the streets. |
Tarannum started working as a bar dancer at Deepa Bar in Mumbai after struggling to make ends meet through menial jobs. |
Working long hours in the bar, she earned around Rs. 8,000 to 10,000 a day and even performed in Dubai at the age of 16. |
Despite her earnings, she faced financial trouble due to lack of knowledge about taxes and relied on an unprofessional accountant. |
The Mumbai government imposed a ban on bar dancers, leaving many like Tarannum without a job after a police raid. |
Abdul Karim Telgi reportedly spent a significant amount on Tarannum, and a film titled ‘Deepa Ki Tarannum’ was made about her life without her permission. |
In 2023, a TV series called ‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’ was released, focusing on the life of Abdul Karim Telgi, Tarannum's former lover. |