03/09/2022
"I met Mridula for the first time at my sister’s wedding & thought to myself, ‘This is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.’ I was barely 17; I didn’t even know her name–it was love at first sight!
When discussions of our marriage started happening, I told my father-in-law outright that I will not take a single penny from him. In my village, I’d never seen people getting married without dowry but for some reason, it just didn’t feel right. He still got a three-piece suit stitched for me but I didn’t wear it. On my wedding day, I was dressed up in a simple Dhoti Kurta.
Post marriage, Mridula & I moved to Mumbai; we survived on her income for several years. She was a qualified school teacher & got a job soon after we moved while I did what all out-of-town actors in Mumbai do… Struggle! But I was absolutely fine with the fact that she was the sole breadwinner of the family; Vo Paisa kamati thi main khana banata tha.
When I tell people about this, they praise me for being vocal about these things. But what is the big deal? And why should people praise you so much for admitting what is true? Biwi se financial support lene mein kya badi baat hai?
Today, I am blessed to have a wonderful wife & a daughter in my life. My 15-yr old Aashi & I share a special bond; she is the sole purpose of my life. I find it strange when I see people raising their sons & daughters differently. I think Beti Bachao se zyada bete ko samjhane ki aur unhein behtreen aadmi banane ki zaroorat hai. Feminism, which talks of equal rights & opportunities for men & women, should be instilled in boys right from childhood.
My wife & I have created an environment where my daughter feels free to discuss whatever she wants to. 'Yeh duniya kitni mushkil hai auraton ke liye ... par uska hal pinjre mein qaid ho jaana nahi hai ... pinjra todke udh jaana hai.’”
