 |
How does it feel to be in Calcutta?
Rahul: Feels great, feels very nice. We got a great welcome from Dimpy’s friends and family. Yesterday, we went for a long romantic drive…
Dimpy: To Rajarhat…. It was fun zipping past the buildings…
Rahul: Followed by all the media cameras…. In the evening, we were with family, with Dimpy’s Dadu. He is 91 years old and the funniest thing is that Dadu doesn’t recognise anyone else but Dimpy and me. I especially came down to Calcutta to meet Dadu. When he saw us getting married on TV, he was very angry because he thought that he was actually present there and no one was introducing me to him! (THE LAUGH)
I have also been eating a lot of vegetarian food cooked by Maa (Dimpy’s mother). She made me lachchha paratha and cholay.
How would you look back on these six months of marriage?
Dimpy: Aaaahhh… a journey. We have learnt so much about marriage and relationships.
Rahul: What people learn in six years we learnt in six months. It’s made us very strong. You know, alloys are made of two metals. They go through heat and then they become strong. Our marriage is like that.
Your marriage was recently rocked by domestic violence. On hindsight, do you think you could have handled the situation better?
Dimpy: I don’t think there is any point talking about it. These things happen in a marriage…
Rahul: What is important is that today we have emerged out of it and our relationship has grown stronger. Right now we are with our family, we are together and we are happy with each other and that is what the world should wish for us. Momentary problems hotey hain… .We are answerable to each other and no one else. We have decided to renew our vows every year and go on a honeymoon every year. This marriage is for keeps.
How does it feel to be in a marriage that is constantly in the public eye?
Dimpy: For me it’s sometimes very disturbing. This constant thing of everyone all the time wanting to know about the marriage. But at the same time, it also feels good that people are looking up to us, that they are curious. Somewhere it makes us feel important and loved. The fact that they admire us is the reason why they want to know about us all the time. It has its advantages and disadvantages.
Rahul: As far as I am concerned, the camera was never a choice for me. When my father died, I automatically came into the public eye. I have learnt to adapt to it. As long as we as a couple are fine with each other, all these things really don’t matter.
Dimpy: It’s become part of our lives. So we might as well live with it.
After what happened, would you say that you understand each other better now?
Rahul: Much, much more. The most remarkable thing that has happened is that we don’t really need to communicate with each other through words. Marriage is like a plant. You have to nurture it everyday and that’s what we are learning to do.
Dimpy: Marriage is something that grows on you. I have learnt that every marriage is custom-made. You have to know what works for your marriage and what doesn’t.
Looking back, do you regret getting married on the show (Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jaayega) instead of going through a period of courtship?
Rahul: Marriage, birth and death are decided by god.
Dimpy: We were destined to meet. Getting to know each other after marriage made it all the more romantic. I think getting into a marriage straightaway made us less critical of each other.
Rahul: Pehle tum aise thhey, ab tum aise ban gaye ho — aisa koi chakkar hi nahin hai hamare saath! We were not meant to be boyfriend and girlfriend. We were always meant to be husband and wife.
What have you learnt about each other in these six months?
Rahul: When it comes to a lot of things, she doesn’t express herself freely. That’s why we are working a lot on our communication. But I know she will learn slowly because she is just 22. I am 35, I have evolved to a certain age and emotional level. In eight years, she will be a different person — much more evolved and mature.
Dimpy: I think he is very misunderstood…
Has the 13-year age difference contributed to the problems in your marriage?
Rahul: I think it’s actually an advantage. I don’t think a marriage works very well if both partners are the same age.
Dimpy: He may be 35, but he’s just like a child. I am mothering him all the time!
Rahul: I am childlike, not childish. There is a difference.
How have family and friends supported you through the trying times?
Rahul: I have become so close to her family that she is actually jealous! Her closest friends reveal their secrets to me.
Dimpy: My mother-in-law (Rekha Mahajan) is more than a mother to me. She loves me more than she loves Rahul.
Dimpy, are you looking to restart your modelling and acting career?
I am now looking to get back. There have been a few offers, but let’s see. I would love to do a Bangla film.
Rahul, are you supportive about Dimpy getting back to her career?
I am more than supportive but I will choose what work she will do, what she won’t do… I will even negotiate the fee on her behalf!
Are you both a part of Bigg Boss 4?
Dimpy: Absolutely untrue. We haven’t been offered Bigg Boss.
Rahul: I don’t want to do it a second time. Once is more than enough.
Rahul, what about getting into politics?
At the right time and the right place. Getting into politics is not like enrolling at a club. It’s important to be a leader and I am working towards that. I am targeting the 2014 general elections.
