She ruled the roost as a pop star in the 90s. Cut to 2016, Raageshwari is far removed from the world of glitz. She is a hands-on mother, runs mediation programmes and occupies herself with yoga, baby books and cooking while not occasionally venturing out for a stage performance. Raageshwari married Sudhanshu, a barrister in England, in 2014, and earlier this year they were blessed with a baby girl, Samaya.
About her husband she says, “He may be a barrister and a Cambridge & Oxford scholar, but he is very loving and simple. Only his love and kindness have made me sail through the switch. I am deeply inspired by his human rights work in Afghanistan, Syria and Darfur.”
Raageshwari admits that her choice of partner comes as a surprise to her friends. “This should amuse everyone. My friends only introduced me to businessmen. I had great respect for them but I was searching for a different vibe in my companion. My friends still cannot believe I married a barrister from England. They love him though —especially Juhi Chawla. She had a very deep and meaningful conversation about his work.”
Luckily for Raageshwari, she loves the city she now calls home. “London is such a warm-hearted city. From the black cabs to sales staff to passers by, everyone is so kind. If you are a woman with a baby, then all the more.”
Raageshwari with her husband, parents and daughter
Speaking of the baby, “My mother Veera wanted me to have a baby the day I got married! She was so concerned about my age (I was 41), but I would tell her to just relax. Thankfully Sudhanshu did not mention kids even once. That environment is most conducive to change and growth. And so, little Samaya was born.”
The change she says, has been dramatic. “Your life is now all about lullabies, nappies, baby food and entertaining the baby like a clown. I look after Samaya single-handedly (except for a lady history professor who baby sits when I'm performing or hosting a show on rare occasions). But Sudhanshu and I try not to be over indulgent parents. We are just grateful to have a healthy baby.”
Does she miss the limelight? “The trappings of celebrityhood seem frivolous now. Brands, shoes and totes seem futile. My wardrobe has shrunk and my library has enlarged,” she says.
Her little girl however, may not agree. The toddler is already endorsing baby fashion brands. “Well ideally babies love to be simply nude and dance around. We parents love to dress them up. Yes, Samaya is endorsing the Pepa & Co brand. But I love to dress her in Indian clothes or Lucknow embroidery baby kurtas. Due to the cold weather here, she has to be in stockings and hats and her fur snowsuit. So I save her lovely Indian cottons for the summers.”
On the work front, Raageshwari is always pursuing creative arts. “I'm always creating projects and hoping that they can become visible to everyone out there. I have worked on a dance single and I have completed a modern Sufi album. I hope I can release it soon.”
Thankfully for her, the family is musical too. “Sudhanshu loves art and music. So he is very involved in my interests. When I shot for the Ganesh video or when I'm performing a show, he gets very excited to see a different me. He is a pianist but pursued law instead. So he deeply respects creative arts.”
