No Filmi Business! - Femina

Renuka Shahane and Ashutosh Rana started out as just good friends, unaware of the kind of love life had in store for them

They met normally enough... there were no 'filmi' situations, no impromptu song and dance. A common friend introduced them at a movie trial show. Renuka, otherwise too shy to talk to male co-stars, instantly took to him. "It was easier for me to get along with the female stars. I couldn't converse for more than five minutes with any male actor. For the first time, here was someone with whom I was very comfortable and who was well-read and intelligent." One meeting led to another, helping them to understand each other better.

Ashutosh says, "When I was 15, I was very hot tempered and wanted to become a politician. At that point, I was introduced to Shri Dev Prabhalkar Shastri, who is my guru. He really helped get me the right perspective on life. I take his guidance for each and every decision. For me, his approval was very important, so I introduced Renuka to him in 1999 and soon after that, we got married with his consent."

A Surprising Homecoming

Renuka belongs to an affluent Maharashtrian family from Mumbai and Ashutosh hails from an educated, traditional rural educated zamindar family based in Madhya Pradesh (MP). The marriage ceremonies took place in MP where, for the first time, Renuka experienced life in a village.

She says, "I worked hard to adjust to the culture, language, habits, etc. Whenever I am with my in-laws, I cover my head with the saree 'pallu'. It's not about being old fashioned, it's just an act of accepting their culture respectfully so that I am accepted in the same way. See, I had two choices: I interact with my in-laws with a starry attitude or I behave just as any other member of the family. I chose the latter."

What Keeps Them Together

They make joint decisions and respect the other's opinion.

They are both family oriented and prefer close moments of solitude with their loved ones. It doesn't matter what they do, as long as they do it together.

They love children

Though Renuka is a year older than Ashutosh and has spent more time in the industry, their relationship has never been affected. Ashutosh says, "Having a wife in the same profession who is more experienced in the ways of the industry has its advantages. She understands my daily schedules, she guides me and lends her maturity to handle the negativity and the pressures of this profession."

"Unconditional acceptance and open communication can help you sustain your relationship for a long time" adds Ashutosh.

Ashutosh and Renuka feel it was first the mental compatibility, then the emotional understanding and finally the physical attraction that sealed their relationship. These six years of knowing one another have taken them through their best and their worst. For now, they are looking forward to the arrival of their second baby. Well, cheers to that!

Ashutosh and Renuka spoke to Anita Seth

Poles Apart

• Renuka says Ashutosh's sleeping habits drive her crazy! "He's always running late and sleeps through every alarm. He falls into a deep sleep and it's quite a task to wake him up. Right from missing flights to calling him outstation at 4:00 am and calling the hotel staff to bang on his door to wake him up so that he can make it for his shoot on time, we've been through all of it!" laughs Renuka.

• Ashutosh complains that Renuka is too punctual. "There have been times when we have landed for parties on time only to find the host is still dressing up," he says.

• Renuka is rational and makes her decisions independently. Ashutosh relies on his guruji in almost every area of his life.