SHOULDERING more than 5 roles at 37! That, perhaps, describes Dr Srinidhi Chidambaram appropriately who, apart from being the perfect daughter-in-law to the Chidamabarams, has her to-do list full with a Bharatanatyam performance coming up soon and work at Apollo. Still, Srinidhi is unperturbed. She opens up to Expresso about her many roles at her residence in Nungambakkam.
Being an ace Bharatanatyam dancer
“I wasn't dancing for sometime because of a strain in the knee. So I decided to become fit first and started a workout. I am not a morning person but there was no other way out because my day was otherwise full with work at Apollo and Aditi, my daughter. I have been rehearsing and perfecting the dance for this performance for the last five to seven months, on and off between work. I rehearse at home and no one objects. Not even my father-in-law when he is at home. In fact, I get embarrassed sometimes to create so much noise when he is around," she says.
About work at Apollo
“When I had joined Apollo, everyone thought I was the usual bored rich girl, looking for some way to kill time. But I have been able to prove all of them so wrong. Today I take care of the Apollo's website and its SACH program single-handedly. More responsibilities have been added to my portfolio, which are for my own good. Now working on their Health Communications and taking care of the international patient services with SACH is engrossing work. I would be quiet at a loss without my to-do list and assistant. I am considering doing an MBA to be able to work better.”
Karti and I
“We are poles apart in our habits, likes and dislikes. If I am so into dance and music he is far from it. He is completely a sports buff and I am not. But our family values have been the same and we have grown up around the same people. And out 100 percent commitment to each other is what our strongest asset is. He cribs about the society magazines I read but at the end of day I best like him for his complete truthfulness."
My daughter Aditi and I
“Aditi is our world for now. Even her grandparents are crazy about her, more so because they always wanted a daughter. Her grandfather, in spite of being so busy in Delhi, makes it a point to call her and they have long conversations. Aditi refuses to study without me. Though she is not a dancer like me, she is more interested in sports. She says she doesn't want to dance because she wants to be an ordinary person. We don't make the family name a big deal for her. We do indulge her but at the same time ensure she knows that what she is by herself is more important. Karti plays mediator when we both fight. We are more like siblings and I have found a great friend in her.”
The future
“Karti definitely wants to make it big in politics and he truly wants to make a difference. I guess politics was always there and inevitable. We discussed it as being an important part of his life even before marriage. Now, I just hope I am able to support him in all possible ways,” she explains.
Dr Srinidhi Chidambaram will perform at the Bharat Kalachar, YGP Auditorium in T Nagar on December 12.
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