An Exclusive Interview With Namratha Shirodkar

Namratha on her marraige with Mahesh Babu.

That was quite a flash marriage?
No! We had been seeing one another for almost five years. The wedding was to happen any time this year. But his family wanted it immediately. He has a really busy time ahead and wanted to get married before his new crop of movies started. But I am not complaining. It turned out beautifully for me, touchwood

Why were you so secretive about your relationship with Mahesh Babu?
Not secretive. It’s just that you need to be sure it will happen. Anything could go wrong until the last minute. You could end up looking embarrassed. I’m a little superstitious about happiness.

How did you meet him?
We did a Telugu movie Vamsi together. But we began seeing each other about a year after the film. In the past year I’ve been shuttling between Mumbai and Hyderabad. I had started doing far less work so I could spend time with Mahesh. He’s really busy and there was no other way I could be with him except to join him in his city. Yeah, I’m completely love struck and I hope I remain this way for the rest of the my life

How is Mahesh Babu as a person?
Very level-headed. Not at all a ‘Star’. I’ve been first-hand witness to how real he can be. He’s very loving, caring and understanding. He believes in family values as strongly as I do. He’s very shy. We clicked together because in many ways he‘s quite like me. And he’s very good looking.

So are you.
Oh, he’s far better looking than me. Very boyish and charming. If you like me, you’ll love him.

Love me love my dog?
Nooooo! Nothing like that. But he’s far better human being than I am. He’s very focussed. His work is his big passion in life.

Bigger than you?
That you’ll have to ask him (laughs). My career doesn’t really matter to me that much any longer. I’m quite happy with my life with Mahesh Babu. However if I get an interesting offer I’m open to it. I never got that one role that would’ve given me chance to prove myself. Right now I don’t even want to go there.

So which is home now Mumbai or Hyderabad?
Well…I’d be settling down in Hyderabad with my husband. But my parents live in Mumbai. So I’d be traveling in both cities. Mahesh and I are building a home in Hyderabad. And I’m quite looking forward to doing it up, piece by piece. We’ve an architect to design it. But I’m doing it on my own with Mahesh’s inputs