In a time when most celebrity LinkedIn profiles are a highlight reel of glamorous job titles and business endeavors, Shraddha Kapoor’s candid (and side-splitting) work experience section is taking the internet by storm. From brewing less-than-perfect cappuccinos to crafting “really good” bagels, Shraddha’s early hustle as a student in Boston has now become a viral moment and one that many of us can relate to.
From Bollywood Star to Sandwich Maker?
Yes, you read that right.
Shraddha Kapoor, best known for her roles in Aashiqui 2, Stree, and more recently Stree 2, joined LinkedIn recently with the intention of sharing her “entrepreneurial journey.” But what caught everyone’s eye wasn’t just her current role as the co-founder of Palmonas (a homegrown luxury jewelry brand) or her acting career that kicked off in 2009; it was what came before all of that.
In a move that’s both humble and hilarious, Shraddha shared her short-lived work experiences during her student days at Boston University, and let’s just say, she didn’t sugarcoat a thing.
“I Want to Find All the Customers and Apologize”
In one of the entries, Shraddha listed her role as a barista at Starbucks, where she worked between October and December 2005. Rather than dressing it up with corporate jargon or vague buzzwords, she simply wrote:
“I was the worst and slowest barista in Boston. I want to find all the customers and apologize.”
That’s it. No frills. No ego. Just plain honesty with a touch of self-deprecating humor.
It didn’t stop there. In her next job, she worked as a sandwich maker at Einstein Bros Bagels from January to March 2006. Her description?
“Made bagels. Really good ones.”
Cue the internet’s collective laughter.
The Internet Reacts: “The Struggle Was Real”
Screenshots of Shraddha’s LinkedIn profile made their way to Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), where users couldn’t help but applaud her transparency.
One Reddit user joked, “Looks like the struggle was more for the barista customers.” Another added, “Even she had to earn side income in the US. Struggle is real.”
Many others found her work experience descriptions “adorable” and “refreshingly real.” It’s not every day you see a Bollywood A-lister poking fun at herself online, and that too on a platform like LinkedIn, where everyone seems to be in a competition for the most polished resume.
A Bumpy Start on LinkedIn
Interestingly, Shraddha’s foray into LinkedIn didn’t go as smoothly as she might have hoped. Last month, she posted on Instagram that her account was flagged as fake, despite being verified and even having a premium subscription.
“Dear LinkedIn, I’m not able to use my own account because LinkedIn thinks it’s fake… Getting an account itself has become a journey,” she wrote.
Thankfully, that issue seems to be resolved now. Her profile is up and running, and in just a week, she has gained over 50,000 followers. Safe to say, people are here for more of Shraddha’s down-to-earth updates.
A Journey from Psychology to Pop Stardom
For those who don’t know, Shraddha was a psychology student at Boston University before she dropped out to pursue acting. Her first film, Teen Patti (2009), could have failed at the box office, but it was the starting point of her career. Within two years, Aashiqui 2 shot her to fame, and that was the start of a better journey. From ABCD 2 to Chhichhore, Ek Villain to Saaho, and now Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar and Stree 2, Shraddha has established herself as a versatile and bankable name in the industry.
From Coffee to Co-Founder
With her own brand now, Palmonas, Shraddha is making the leap into the entrepreneurial world, merging fashion and functionality in the realm of demi-fine jewelry. She regularly shares about her brand journey on LinkedIn, taking behind-the-scenes shots and product peeks.
And yet, in all the success, it’s her candor regarding those coffee spills and sandwich shifts early on that has won hearts over.
Why This Matters
Shraddha’s honest profile is a reminder that we all begin somewhere. Her openness about her not-so-glamorous work is not only charming, but it’s also powerfully relatable. Whether you’re a student just trying to get by or someone who’s had a couple cringe-worthy part-time jobs yourself, Shraddha’s tale makes you feel observed.
In the world of carefully crafted perfection and filtered success, her self-deprecating humor about her early career stints is a breath of fresh air. And going by the reaction online, it’s pretty clear that a bit of humility (and a subpar latte) can go a long way.