Today, he is a celebrated celebrity photographer who has captured superstars such as Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Kriti Sanon etc. But Munna Thaakur once went through immense financial struggles. In an interview with The Humans Of Bombay, he revealed how he arrived in Mumbai with just Rs 24 in his pocket.Growing up in a modest family in Akola, Maharashtra, Munna became familiar with struggle and sacrifice from an early age. He shared his childhood with two siblings in a small house, where resources were limited and every rupee mattered. His father worked long hours in a cotton mill to provide for the family, but making ends meet was often a challenge.Witnessing his father's constant efforts left a deep impression on Munna. Even as a young boy, he felt a strong sense of responsibility toward his family and was determined to contribute financially. The desire to ease his father's burden became stronger than his interest in continuing his studies.After completing Class 7, he made the difficult decision to leave school and enter the workforce. Instead of spending his days in a classroom, his thoughts revolved around finding ways to earn an income and support his household. With little concern for the nature of the job, he was willing to take on any work that came his way.At the beginning, he engaged in random jobs ranging from painting to carpentry and daily-wage work to bring in the money. In 1991, at the age of 15, he arrived in Mumbai. He started his innings in Mumbai as a newspaper delivery boy. For eight years he held odd jobs such as diamond polisher and cutter, welding etc. In 1997, he landed an internship at a photography studio. He developed a passion for photography. He was taught the ropes by a friend called Bilal, who also posed as his first model and helped him develop a portfolio. In 1999, he gathered courage and requested a domestic worker at model-actor Arjun Rampal’s home to work with him. He agreed to a photoshoot free of cost. Later, he also developed a bond with Sonu Sood, who was a struggling actor back then. ““After having Arjun Rampal’s shoot in my portfolio, I started to visit different studios to look for work. It was he who got me my first exposure to the Film City. I also moved to Oshiwara with Sonu Sood, who was a struggling artist back then. We would split the rent and cost of everything from food to electricity. He also modeled for me several times. The two helped me quite a bit in my career and I share a special bond with them,” he told The Humans Of Bombay. Today, he earns Rs 25 lakh annually. He explained that the scarcity he experienced in his early life, endowed him with a gritty, never-say-never attitude that helped him overcome obstacles and succeed.