In the two and a half years since Devendra Fadnavis assumed office as Maharashtra’s chief minister, his wife, Amruta Fadnavis, has become a name to reckon with. While many politicians’ wives have been part of sober charity functions, perhaps none have taken on the challenge of pursuing their professional goals, something that Amruta has changed with her recent music video in which she stars with Amitabh Bachchan.
An independent working woman, Amruta works as a banker in a private bank. When she finds some time off from her day job, she pursues her singing. Amruta crooned for a Bollywood flick, Jai Gangaajal earlier this year. She even walked down the ramp at the New York Fashion Week for the students of the Chasa Institute of Design and Technology, a college for the economically backward in Pune. Her video with the Big B, then, comes as a natural progression of a talented lady, furthering her ambitions.
However, it has become something of a talking point online. Actress and director, Divya Khosla Kumar, who has maintained a strong image as a filmmaker, besides being Bhushan Kumar’s wife, praises Amruta unconditionally for pursuing her own interests. “This is a moment for applause in a country like India, where women are often looked at through the lens of their husband’s identity. I think that Amruta — or any woman for that matter — should be judged as individuals. Shooting this video or making her own music, makes her an admirable individual in her own right.” Divya adds that no one spouse should overshadow the other in any way. “In any relationship, one individual is often in the limelight more that the other. That doesn’t make what the other person is doing matter less.”
Actress and model Tara Sharma Saluja, who hosts The Tara Sharma Show on TV, says that the secret to success is mutual trust and support. She also cites the encouraging relationship she shares with her husband, the highly successful media businessman, Roopak Saluja. “I’ve known Amruta to be a career-oriented, admirable woman. So I only find it natural for her to pursue her dreams. When I created The Tara Sharma Show, I had the full support of my husband, and I support him in his ventures as well. I am sure that that is the case for Amruta and Devendra Fadnavis as well,” she explains with a smile.
—With inputs from Yogita Chainani
