How veteran actor Suhasini Mulay found love at 60
What's the story
Suhasini Mulay, the veteran Bollywood actor known for films such as Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar, recently opened up about her decision to marry at the age of 60. Until then, she had remained single because she hadn't found "the right match." Speaking to Suhana Safar, she said, "I married for the first time at the age of 60... My husband is a very well-known scientist...he is a wonderful human being."
Meeting
How a Facebook post led to her marriage
Mulay's journey to finding love is straight out of a Bollywood film. She revealed that she joined Facebook after a co-star suggested it for work opportunities. One day, she stumbled upon the profile of Atul Gurtu, who was working on the Large Hadron Collider. Intrigued by his work in science, she messaged him asking about the LHC. Their conversation led to Gurtu hinting that he was looking for a life partner.
Hesitation
She didn't give her number immediately
Despite Gurtu's hints at wanting a life partner, Mulay was skeptical. She consulted a friend who advised her to keep the door open. "He told me that at this age, the options only become fewer...If you don't like him, you can always move on," she recalled. However, she was still hesitant and refused to give her number immediately. "Good girls don't give their phone numbers to strangers," she said.
Criteria
Mulay had jotted down qualities she wanted in a partner
Before meeting Gurtu, Mulay had jotted down qualities she wanted in a partner. The most important was equality. She told ABP Live, "I had remained unmarried for so long because I couldn't find a man who believed in equality." She also sought someone who wasn't overly religious or judgmental. Fortunately, Gurtu met all her criteria.
Family reaction
When Mulay told her mother about getting married
When Mulay finally broke the news to her mother, she was shocked. "I called my mother and said, 'I think I've met a man.' She couldn't believe it." Her mother later met Gurtu during one of his lectures in Pune. What impressed her most was Gurtu's response to why he wanted to marry late in life. "He said, 'Suhasini has lived alone all her life and can continue to do so... But I want to give happiness a chance.'"
Societal pressure
Her mother's unwavering support and facing criticism
Mulay also spoke about the criticism she faced for marrying at 60. "When you're a celebrity, people think they have the right to judge every decision you make." She remembered how people would tell her mother that she had become too independent and difficult to control. Despite all this, her mother always stood by her. Today, at 75, Mulay has been happily married to Gurtu for over 15 years.