New Delhi:Ashutosh Rana and Renuka Shahane, long before they became one of the most loved couples of the industry, were just two people getting to know each other over late night phone calls and voice notes. Their love story was not a normal one. They didn't want to get married, but wanted to stay committed as friends. The irony of this whole situation is not only did they get married and create a life of love and respect but they celebrated 25 years of marriage together on May 25.
How did Ashutosh meet Renuka?
Ashutosh had once talked about their love story and had revealed some lesser-known facts about their courtship. The two had first met during a Hansal Mehta film preview. The film was never released, but it did change their lives forever and it was interesting.
After their meeting the two got along and Ashutosh wanted to stay in touch so he got in touch with director Ravi Rai for Renuka’s number. But there were provisos. He recalls being told not to call her after 9pm and to leave a message on the answering machine. Dussehra, and Ashutosh called Renuka. He left a message on her landline, looking for an excuse to touch base. Later she replied through his sister, and eventually gave him her mobile number.
Then there was the talking for months without ever meeting. Talking to The Lallantop, Ashutosh said, “I called her at 10 pm, that too on her mobile and we talked for another 1.5 hours. I called her again the next day at 11 p.m and we talked again. We never met but we became phone friends. We became friends. We began talking three times a day. “One more thing, she doesn’t like poetry at all and I love poetry,”
Ashutosh confessed he was getting close to Renuka but was not comfortable to tell her because he was afraid to lose the friendship they had built. If I propose and if there is nothing from her side then I will lose the friendship also. And I didn’t want to lose her as a friend. For the first time I wrote a poem on love and recited it to her. She said, ‘Listen, Rana ji, I think I love you.’ I said 'Okay, you come, we will sit and talk'.
Ashutosh and Renuka didn't want to marry at first
The couple dated for three years before marriage came up. Ashutosh said that neither of them was interested in marriage to begin with. We weren’t going to get married. We wanted to be friends.” I thought I would change when I got married. But thank god it didn’t happen.”
He also revealed that it was his father who pushed him to take the next step. Ashutosh had initially thought their marriage would not work because they were so different people. But after a few talks and a lot of convincing from his father, he finally decided to pop the question. “I have a request,” he said, recalling the moment. I want to marry you. Will you?”
Later, their marriage proved to be a grand affair with Ashutosh revealing that around 1.5 lakh people attended it. More than two decades later, the couple continue to remain one of the most admired pairs in the entertainment industry and are now parents to two children.
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