Ravi Katari, Entrepreneur
Wife: Tehzeeb Katari, Theatre personality
He’s not a stage person, but has been to almost every show his wife has acted in, since the 1970s.
Going to all those plays, have you never wanted to be on stage yourself?
No (laughs). I’m more a backstage kind of person. But when Tehzeeb directed her first play Tara last year with the Madras Players, I did get involved with the sets and rehearsals quite a bit.
You’ve both pursued multiple professions over the years, yes?
I was in shipping and logistics early on, then we entered the garment business together... that was 25 years ago and presently we run an NGO. Tehzeeb is also involved in teaching spoken English and is working on mosquito eradication with the Chennai Corporation.
Some would say, that’s too many interests for one spouse to handle, let even two!
I’d say too many couples have one spouse not interested in the other’s work or recreation interests. It creates a sort of distorted balance. Fortunately I was raised in a family where women were multi-dimensional and no real restrictions were imposed on a woman’s role.
Dr Arjun Rajagopalan, Trustee and Medical Director, Sundaram Medical Foundation
Wife: Dr Gita Arjun, director,
E V Kalyani Medical Foundation
They’ve been friends for 44 years and married for 38. Clearly, both are rockstars in their respective fields, one still has to wonder...
How does a surgeon help a gynaecologist grow in the field of medicine?
One thing we did was to make sure that we stayed very close to Gita’s hospital. She just had to cross the road and she was at work! So that helped tremendously with her managing time and the children growing up.
Back in the 1970s when you graduated, it wasn’t such a liberal time. Was the idea of a woman working and not taking care of the house brought up a lot by relatives and friends?
Unfortunately I find it even today. I see so many qualified women who don’t work because of their husbands. You can’t put down someone’s talent because of your ego, it’s not right.
How did the two of you juggle home and kids with such hectic professions?
We had the support of my mother. A lot of what Gita and I have accomplished would never have been possible without her.
Clearly your medical professions have blossomed because you supported each other as well. Would you say you’ve become a different person since you got married, career aside?
Oh yes. I never travelled before. Now we go everywhere together. She used to be scared of dogs and didn’t want the fear to pass on the kids, so she even brought a dog home — just to face her fear! I think my wife’s made me more adventurous than I would ever have imagined.
Yavar Dhala, Businessman and Leather exporter
Wife: Rehane, Fashion designer
They’ve been married for 22 years. Her fashion career came into the limelight after the two tied the knot. And Yavar admits with a laugh, “I can’t even draw a straight line straight.”
So how did you play a role in her success?
I think being supportive is extremely important. A nagging husband would have probably been a huge distraction in all these years. Also I’ve been to fashion week quite a few times and watch a lot of her shows.
Do you feel a bit overshadowed when you’re wife has to pose for a picture and you’re not in it?
That’s just how it works in the industry, you need solo shots of the designer. And I think my ego is big enough to take it. I’m very proud of Rehane and want her to do better.
What happens when her work means she has to compromise on the home front?
Given that I have to travel about a week in every six weeks, I make those compromises more than she does. Rehane is a good wife, a great parent and yes, of course there are times when she has to spend more time at work than at home. That’s why we’ve hired support staff to help us out.
Is there a secret to your amazing dynamic togetherness?
Every evening, whoever is home first makes it a point to wait for the other. And then we have dinner together.