Bhawana Somaaya

I was clearing old files in my computer and came across this ancient interview done almost 20 years ago where husbands discuss what they most dislike about their wives. It is a delicious feature that reveals great insights on marriage. I was engaged reading it and reproduce the same for nostalgic value in my blog.

Lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar said he hates Shabana when she is on a cleaning spree for then she is bound to touch his desk and misplace his most important files and papers. “I also disapprove of her last minute instructions to the staff just when we are about to leave the house but what is most annoying is her frequent misplacing of her key bunch. I fail to understand how a woman who remembers all her friend’s birthdays and anniversary, who never misses an important date of anyone in the family, can every single day misplace her bunch of keys.”

Rishi Kapoor said that he hates Neetu the most when he is angry and she cautions me to remain cool… “I cannot understand why she wants me to calm down even before I have begun to get angry and when I complain that to her she starts smiling and that makes me even angrier. I get angry with Neetu when she nags me to diet and to exercise even though I understand she does it for my good health. What baffles me is that she continues to remain health conscious and at the same time does not give up changing me.”

Dilip Kumar said that despite strict instructions to Saira Banu to not over load his personal dhobi with other chores somehow his wife has a way of keeping his laundry man busy and that bothered him because Dilip kumar wanted his undivided attention.
“Also I hate her worrying incessantly about my health and my meals, for I am old enough to look after myself?”

Kamal Haasan said he hated Sarika’s habit of shouting ‘Dinner is ready’ and at the precise moment when he arrived at the dining table, she disappeared in to the children’s room to put the baby to sleep. “I don’t know why women do this because once I’m in front of food I cannot wait to attack it. I also disapprove of her drinking gallons of tea at all odd hours…tea is injurious and causes acidity and insomnia.”

Amitabh Bachchan said that hate is too strong an expression to express an irritant in spouse but he confessed that he strongly disapproves of Jaya touching his desk and cleaning his study. “There are stacks of letters and papers and only I understand what is kept where and why…When she cleans my study she disorients my belongings so I have explained to her that I can cope with the mess on my table but I cannot cope with my papers getting shuffled around and she understands.”

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said he hated Soni discussing wrong things at the wrong time… When I’m discussing food, Soni discuses my temperament and I have failed to see the connection. Or on another occasion when I’m discussing serious work, she draws my attention to a particular costume my heroine is wearing on the set…It’s a crazy life and it is called star-crossed communications…”

Dharmendra said that he hated and at the same time loved Hema Malini’s self-control and strong will power. “What is admirable and also enviable about her is that her `yes’ means `yes’ and her `no’ also means ‘no’. I have often wondered why I cannot be like her and since I cannot, I decided not to dislike anything about her.

- Bhawana Somaaya
blog.bhawanasomaaya.com