HYDERABAD: She may be a successful actress, producer and television presenter, but Lakshmi Manchu’s biggest strength and support is her husband Anand “Andy” Srinivasan. “I’m a free soul and Andy has been my strongest anchor,” the actress says, as she reflects on nearly 10 years of marriage. The actor/ producer/ television host/ philanthropist/ director/ writer married Andy Srinivasan, an entrepreneur who is also a computer consultant, in August 2006. Lakshmi shares memories about her wedding and reveals how worried she was of getting married. She had seen many relationships fall apart because of marriage and was apprehensive of tying the knot. “But now I can proudly say that I’m the most luckiest person on earth” she says. Lakshmi also gives simple yet effective tips on how one can ensure that they create an everlasting bond with their partner, despite busy schedules.
First meeting
It all started in Chennai. I went shopping with my friend for her wedding and a common friend introduced us. We don’t know why but there was an instant connection and Andy says he always knew that I would marry him from the moment we saw each other. I was always different and did things nobody would do. In college I chose theatre as my subject. I was suggested not to take up theatre by my counselor since I was a woman, an Indian woman and wouldn’t get a job. At that point, Andy said “don’t listen to anybody but yourself. Follow your heart, do whatever interests you.” That moment I knew I was in love with him.
The Wedding Story
With two weeks before my wedding, 20 of my friends from the US came down to India. At the start, I had so much fun shopping with them. All the jewellery, the decoration, the people excited me a lot. But during gouri puja, for the first time I started to worry about getting married. During the puja I literally wanted to run away thinking it’s not too late to do it. Having seen many of my close friends experience trouble with their respective marriages – some of them falling apart, while others staying in a loveless relationship just for the sake of it – really bothered me. I finished my gouri puja and went on for the next ceremony with this thought in my mind. However, I recalled all the good memories we shared together. I realised that in fact, I’m getting married to my best friend whom my dad approved of in the first meeting itself. When he meant to meet my dad, he was all alone and was grilled by my dad and his friends, but he managed to win their approval (laughs). As I recalled this, my confidence rose once again and I started to enjoy the whole ceremony. I ended up having a blast and now we are married for nine beautiful years and have been blessed with a daughter, Nirvana, who is the best thing to have happened to our marriage.
Best qualities
I’m that kind of person who doesn’t plan each day. I just go with the flow. I’m a free soul, and Andy has been my strongest anchor no matter what. He has been protective and supportive with whatever decisions I made. When people are in a relationship, even the smallest of habits of their partners might drive them away and sometimes such things also become the reason behind their split. In simple words relationship is my way or highway, but marriage is the opposite of it. It is something where you make a commitment. For a marriage to work out, you don’t need to make big gestures to show the person that you love, care or to show them that they are important to you. Just telling each other “I love you” creates a very big impact and builds up trust and confidence. Speaking of which that is exactly what Andy does. That’s the best quality about him which I love. I can proudly say I’m the luckiest person on earth. These small things create a lot of difference and I also feel that it is important for couples to do so. With that balance, Andy and sky diving together, scuba diving and everything that is adventurously possible.
For Andy, the best quality in Lakshmi is her inner-strength. “She has her own persona. She’s a go-getter. I like my woman to be strong and Lakshmi is exactly what I’m talking about. She has a commanding presence about her,” shares Andy. Manchu Lakshmi and Andy Srinivasan will celebrate their 10th anniversary on August 4.