Close X
Saturday, November 30, 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

National Award: 'Bhaag Milkha...' named for wholesome entertainment

National Award: 'Bhaag Milkha...' named for wholesome entertainment
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra directed biopic "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" has been named the best film in the wholesome entertainment category at the 61st National Film Awards here.

National Award: 'Bhaag Milkha...' named for wholesome entertainment

Rajkummar grew real moustache for 'CityLights'

Rajkummar grew real moustache for 'CityLights'
Rajkummar Rao has gone Aamir Khan's way by getting deep into a character for "CityLights". For the movie, the young actor grew a real moustache to fulfill the requirement for his role.

Rajkummar grew real moustache for 'CityLights'

Shah Rukh Khan: Sleepless in Abu Dhabi

Shah Rukh Khan: Sleepless in Abu Dhabi
Indian Premier League (IPL) is just a few days away and superstar Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, has been working hard and hasn’t slept for two days.

Shah Rukh Khan: Sleepless in Abu Dhabi

What? Hrithik is seeking medical tips from fans

What? Hrithik is seeking medical tips from fans
The 40-year-old complained of pain in the lower part of the leg, that is from knee to ankle. Shin splints are common among runners and dancers. 

What? Hrithik is seeking medical tips from fans

SRK gifts brand new car to Farah Khan

SRK gifts brand new car to Farah Khan
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan knows how to make his friends feel special. He has gifted a brand new car to his "Happy New Year" director and close buddy Farah Khan, who is "touched" with the gesture.

SRK gifts brand new car to Farah Khan

'SRK, Aamir, Salman, Karan pushed Indian cinema globally'

'SRK, Aamir, Salman, Karan pushed Indian cinema globally'
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has travelled the world, meeting cinema icons from all over. He feels happy at the growing reach of Indian movies and says younger stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan deserve the credit for realising their potential globally and pushing it in the world.

'SRK, Aamir, Salman, Karan pushed Indian cinema globally'