Marriage no bar!

Bollywood may teem with actors keen to keep their marriages under wraps for fear of their careers nose-diving with a change in their marital status. But television in India has a dffierent story to tell. In the last few months, several popular actors have tied the knot with their colleagues, to the delight and admiration of their myriad fans. The artistes too are unabashed in their enthusiasm as they pose comfortably with their spouses and plan their telly sojourns together. A marriage is just taken as a short break in the careers if at all, before they return to their roles. "Marriage is no big deal", shrugs the outspoken Shweta Kawaatra, who says she will pick her next role after she settles down post her Christmas Day wedding with Manav Gohil. Gauri Pradhan and Hiten Tejwani, the much loved Kyunki… couple, didn't even take a break for a honeymoon, but combined it with a shoot in Switzerland in September. "I don't know about the others, but in my case, my fans always wanted me to get married to Gauri as we were a hot on-screen couple. In my opinion one needs to get married at the right age as you get to know the other person better with time. If you delay it, you might not get time to enjoy your married life. A fan remains a fan irrespective of whether you are married or not. Take Shah Rukh Khan, isn't his fan following huge in spite of his being married?" Varun Badola who recently got married to Rajeshwari Sachdev is practical, too. " I am liked for my performances and not my sex appeal or looks. In any case I am not Shah Rukh or Salman", he laughs. "No one watched Astitiva Ek Prem Kahani, just because I am a bachelor, so it shouldn't make any difference now. His bride, Rajeshwari Sachdev has a different take, "Whether it will really affect me, I can tell only later. My engagement and marriage plan was formally announced and yet, I keep getting offers for main roles," she maintains. There may be a reason why audiences don't mind married artistes on TV, as Gauri Pradhan points out. "90 per cent of the soap viewers are women who are at home. They relate to the characters whereas films are a fantasy world. My popularity has increased post my marriage." Ritu Choudhary Seth entered Kyunki… three days after her marriage, but says her fans have never bothered about her marital status. Agrees Shweta, as she busily prepares for her wedding, "I am getting married by choice. Films actresses do get married late, after they have seen the peak in their career. Kajol for instance, will always be a heroine even after a marriage and a kid. I consider marriage as a break in a career, be it any profession. Manav adds a practical note, "It does not affect the career or viewers affection, but marriage means that two years hence, the woman has to plan for kids and then the responsibilities increase. Your attitude will finally decide your decisions." Those like Simone D Singh have always stuck to the courage of their convictions, in spite of such popular apprehensions. "Nothing has been dictated by my career in my life. My personal life decisions are more important. In my mind it makes no difference. I got married when I wanted to. Even if my viewers have felt a change in their perception, I haven't noticed it." Laughs Rajiv Paul, "Acting is just like any other profession. One's personal life is not reflected in the TRPs. In Bombay, there's at least one TV actor in every locality. TV actors are approachable. Moreover married men are considered more charming and desirable. Look at the actresses too - Shweta Tiwari and Smriti Irani are married and yet very popular. The viewers don't bother. Tomorrow if Saakshi Tanwar gets married in real life, people will still love her as Parvati." Adds wife Delnaz, "Bollywood is to be blamed for this perception that marriage wrecks careers. Television couples are successful and happily married. It is an outdated concept to hide your marriage." Delnaz has a point when she says, "In TV serials, there is no hero and heroine concept, just characters like Jassi and Armaan. Do we care whether Apurva Agnihotri is married in real life?" Chetan Hansraj, who got married on 12 December, says, "I don't think there would be a difference in my female fan following, in fact, I feel they would want me more. What is not accessible is desirable!" he laughs. Whichever the reason, marriages in Tellywood are definitely in. Will Bollywood take a leaf from television?