Giving up a flourishing career in Bollywood to marry superstar Mahesh Babu in 2005, Namrata Shirodkar reveals that married life is blissful and that she has no regrets. She’s happy to be concentrating on Mahesh’s career!
Not many may know that Namrata Shirodkar had to wait for five years to marry the love of her life, Mahesh Babu. But it’s unclear how long she will wait to watch his new film Maharshi.
“I can never bring myself to watch Mahesh’s films,” says Namrata with a laugh. “It’s way too stressful for me. All his family members are eager to attend and enjoy the previews of his films like normal people. But I sit at home chewing my nails, praying, wondering if this one will be as big as the previous one, and so on. It’s pure agony! Mahesh tells me to chill, but that’s impossible to do,” she laughs nervously as she monitors the opening box-office collections of Maharshi everywhere.
Namrata Shirodkar
Her fears turn out to be baseless as the figures say it all. “The opening is stupendous everywhere. The praise is pouring in,” she says.
Ironically, Namrata never really bothered about her own career. “You’re right. I didn’t. I never sought roles or asked any director to sign me on. I did some really big films like Vaastav with Sanjay Dutt, Pukar with Anil Kapoor and Jab Pyar Kissi se Hota Hai with Salman Khan. But I didn’t make any effort to cash in on their success. On the other hand, my sister (actress Shilpa Shirodkar) was career-driven. I was laidback and never bothered about the box-office etc. I guess I’m making up for my own lack of interest in my career by being so keenly interested in my husband’s career,” she explains.
Interestingly, Namrata gave up a successful career in Bollywood to become Mrs Mahesh Babu in 2005, and has never looked back since. “There was never a burning desire to be a top actress in the first place. I happily gave up my career to marry Mahesh. And luckily, in the 14 years of our marriage, there has never been a single moment of regret or bitterness. People find it hard to believe that we’re so happy together after all these years,” says Namrata.
Would she ever consider an acting career for her children, Gautham and Sitara? “I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s too stressful. But they are welcome to become actors if they so wish,” says the full-time mother of two, who adds, “I don’t compromise on my motherly duties. Everything else comes later.”
Responding to reports that she runs Mahesh’s personal and professional life, and that he doesn’t take a single decision without consulting her, Namrata says with a laugh, “It just seems that way. Of course, he consults me on all important matters. But Mahesh is a fiercely independent-minded individual. He respects my opinion. But that doesn’t mean he will blindly accept all my decisions.”
