Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
Bollywood

Talking business - not just Bollywood's star wives!

Radhika Bhirani Darpan, 28 Apr, 2014 02:04 PM
  • Talking business - not just Bollywood's star wives!
So, you thought having a 'trophy husband' was enough? That you could revel in his popularity, splurge his moolah and lounge at beauty parlours and kitty parties all day? Get a reality check, dear ladies! Take a cue from Bollywood's star wives club -- names like Gauri Khan, Twinkle Khanna and Adhuna Akhtar always had the choice to do all that and more, but instead, they chose to follow their passion and become entrepreneurs.
 
Add to that, names like Suzzane Khan, Mana Shetty and Shilpa Shetty.
 
Their fields are different -- from interior designing and hairstyling to wellness clubs and philanthropy -- but to the curious me, a common factor binds them all: the desire to carve their own niche; a niche away from the shadow of their husbands' success stories.
 
Take, for instance, Gauri Khan, wife of Bollywood 'badshah' Shah Rukh Khan. A devoted wife and mother, Gauri's tryst with interior designing happened at her house Mannat itself, but she gave her hobby a professional twist by collaborating with another star wife, Suzzane, who is a qualified interior designer.
 
Suzzane, estranged wife of Hrithik Roshan, has an Associate of Arts Degree in interior design from Brooks College in Long Beach, California. She gained hands-on experience while working with her mother's interior firm, and has worked on homes of celebrities like Rani Mukerji and Priyanka Chopra.
 
She has her own brands, and together with Gauri, she recently announced the launch of their latest real estate project, Naira. A luxury mansion project in Goa, it will involve 12 luxury villas which will have a limited edition collection of furniture and accessories from Suzzane's The Charcoal Project.
 
Earlier this year, Gauri also launched her own design store named The Design Cell, much to Shah Rukh's delight and pride.
 
 
Twinkle and Mana are also names to reckon with when it comes to the interior design and decor business.
 
Twinkle, star kid of Bollywood's first 'superstar' Rajesh Khanna, is married to tinsel town's 'khiladi' Akshay Kumar. Had she wanted, she could've sat back and enjoyed a life of, first, being a star kid, and then, a star wife. But she tried her luck in films and then settled to follow her passion. She opened a decor store, The White Window, and penned her own success story.
 
Mana, who is actor Suniel Shetty's better half, too takes pride in being multi-faceted. She not only runs an interiors store, she also designs homes, runs an NGO called Save The Children India and even hosts a fundraising exhibition.
 
In an interview with Mana in 2010, I remember asking her whether being a celebrity wife gives a fillip to her endeavours. She gave a promising response: “I am not always Mana Shetty… I am also just Mana.”
 
“I have an identity of my own. At least I think so and I believe in it. That's why I keep doing a lot of things on my own. Yes, I do have Suniel 100 percent behind me, but I think it does make a lot of difference when you do something on your own and you're not just a celebrity's wife,” she said.
 
True, that!
 
No wonder that when Adhuna Akhtar got married to actor-producer Farhan Akhtar, she didn't give up her first love -- hairstyling -- to be a star wife. She is now a celebrity hairstylist and even works for movies.
 
Let's count in Shilpa Shetty too! Agreed that she herself is a big name in Bollywood, and who managed to “loot” the hearts of UP and Bihar with her beauty and moves, but marrying a London-based businessman threw up an option of leading a relaxed life. What did she choose?
 
 
Shilpa is now a film producer, co-owner of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals, she runs the chain of luxury wellness chain IOSIS, and even has her own fitness DVDs. Her latest is a foray into the jewellery business. Woah!
 
The inference here transcends the fact that these women have stepped out from a zone which could be comfortable and stress-free. It lies in the fact that whether you have a wealthy spouse, who is famous and popular, it can't take away the individuality that a woman can carve for herself -- not just in a relationship, but in the outside world too!

MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

'Revolver Rani' to battle it out with 'Kaanchi', 'Samrat..' for top slot

'Revolver Rani' to battle it out with 'Kaanchi', 'Samrat..' for top slot
After “Queen”, Kangana Ranaut is back at the box office as “Revolver Rani” and she would battle it out with musical “Kaanchi” and thriller “Samrat & Co.” for the top honours when the threesome hit the screens Friday.

'Revolver Rani' to battle it out with 'Kaanchi', 'Samrat..' for top slot

Rani Mukherji marries YRF boss Aditya Chopra in Italy

Rani Mukherji marries YRF boss Aditya Chopra in Italy
Finally, there's clarity on the relationship status of Aditya Chopra and Rani Mukerji. The Yash Raj Films (YRF) head honcho and actress exchanged vows in a small affair held in Italy Monday, said an official announcement.

Rani Mukherji marries YRF boss Aditya Chopra in Italy

'Comedy Nights with Kapil' has another celebrity fan

'Comedy Nights with Kapil' has another celebrity fan
It wasn’t long ago when melody queen Lata Mangeshkar confessed her love for comedian Kapil Sharma's popular show "Comedy Nights with Kapil". And now, it’s actor Vivek Oberoi who has joined the fans' list.

'Comedy Nights with Kapil' has another celebrity fan

Sonam’s newfound crush - Chris Martin

Sonam’s newfound crush - Chris Martin
Actress Sonam Kapoor might not have gone public about her relationships, but she has no qualms about revealing her admiration for Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin.

Sonam’s newfound crush - Chris Martin

Why Sunny Leone said yes to 'Splitsvilla' immediately

Why Sunny Leone said yes to 'Splitsvilla' immediately
Indo-Canadian adult film actress Sunny Leone is back to where she started her career in Hindi showbiz - the small screen. She has signed up as the host of popular dating reality show "MTV Splitsvilla", and she is excited.

Why Sunny Leone said yes to 'Splitsvilla' immediately

Mary Kom shoot harder than hardest for Priyanka

Mary Kom shoot harder than hardest for Priyanka
Months of toil and turmoil for "Mary Kom" have been "harder than the hardest for Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who plays the title role in the biopic on Olympic medal-winning boxer M.C. Mary Kom.

Mary Kom shoot harder than hardest for Priyanka