Meet Amruta Fadnavis - the state’s ‘Vahini’

She's the lady, who has garnered plenty of limelight ever since it was announced that her husband Devendra Fadnavis would be the Chief Minister of the state. After the oath taking ceremony, the power couple came back to Nagpur on Sunday evening, and we saw Amruta, the dedicated working woman that she is, back in office the very next day. After her office hours, she settled down for an informal chat with Nagpur Times…
Balancing act
Ask her why didn't she take a breather after her hectic schedule before and after the oath taking ceremony, and Amruta says, "I don't like taking a break.Yeah, it's been quite hectic; I haven't slept properly in the past few days. But, when you are taking care of important personal or social commitments, you also need to make sure that your work doesn't suffer." Ask her why she's seeking a job transfer to Mumbai, and Amruta says, "I want to go to Mumbai because Devendra will be mostly stationed there and I want to be with my husband when he's working so hard as the CM of Maharashtra. But, my job is also important for me. I have worked hard to get here. I feel every woman should try to be financially independent. It's a humbling experience to be working under someone. My bosses, who would even scold me earlier, are now embarrassed and they say, 'how do we give directions to the CM's wife?' My job is to put them at ease first."
The proud wife
Unlike other CMs' wives, Amruta doesn't shy away from attending rallies along with her husband. "I've been a part of so many rallies with him. Even on Sunday, when we returned, I was so enthusiastic about being a part of a rally. Looking at the love that he gets from the people, it helps me as a wife to not expect too much time from him." Since all eyes will be on Amruta now, how will she face the pressure of looking conventional all the time? "I've never 'acted' to project a particular image, so I don't think I'll have to change. As far as clothes are concerned, I'll stick to my casual westerns for work. But, when I'm going out with my husband, I'll wear a conventional attire. Like on the swearing in day, I was quite conscious about my attire, so I bought a silk saree from a store in Nagpur, and borrowed a neckpiece. I'm a practical woman; so I feel there's no point buying such an expensive piece for one occasion," says she.
The right, the wrong
Being the wife of the 'big boss' of Maharashtra, naturally, the attitude of people will now change towards her. But, Amruta says she's ready to deal with such situations and adds, "There are new people coming on my horizon who suddenly want to connect; then there are people from the past who want to reconnect. There are all types of requests coming in. But, I know when to entertain someone and when to keep a distance. Even my being ambitious might be misconstrued at times, but I feel it's important that I remain honest to myself." Devendra has been away from any controversies till date. But, now he's being observed very minutely, so quite naturally, the scope of misunderstanding too is there. But CM's confident wife says, "I can foresee such situations arising, but mujhe kisi ne bol bhi diya ki 'he has done this,' I will not believe it. I know him very well. He is a very soft person, but he may have to take ruthless decisions. Some people might like them, others may not. So, people are bound to raise their voices against him, but I'll be there to support him always."
On Devendra, the husband
Amruta says Devendra is a calm and understanding husband. "He gives me my space, and takes his space too. Before marriage, we didn't spend our time watching movies together. In fact, most of our conversations veered around things like - he clarifying how he wouldn’t be able to give me much time and me telling him about my passion for work. Understanding is the most important aspect in a relationship; rest of the things follow. Initially, I used to call him sir when our courtship began. But, he corrected me, saying, 'call me Devendra because we are friends," says she. Ask her if she's a good cook and Amruta quickly replies: "No, no! But, I do cook occasionally. The last time I cooked the gola bhaat, my husband liked it. Sometimes, I cook continental dishes like the basil pasta too. But, he likes simple four square Maharashtrian meals, which our cook prepares. But, I ensure that the food that he has, is prepared in very less oil."
Things won't change
CM’s family will soon be shifting to Mumbai. Will all this limelight prove to be detrimental for her? Amruta says: "It'll never be detrimental as I will not let it go to my head, and I'll ensure that it doesn't go to my daughter Divija's head either. I want to give my daughter a very normal childhood. I've already been getting calls for letting her feature in certain serials. She can decide what she wants to do, when she grows up. Right now, I've to ensure that she's treated in her school as a normal child." Talking about the father-daughter rapport, she adds, "Divija understands that her dad is busy because he has a big responsibility. But, Devendra makes sure that he spends time with her whenever he can. Even if he gets 10-15 minutes, he takes Divija to a nearby shop to buy her toys." But, Amrita knows one thing will surely change in her life. "In the past, Devendra would take me for bike rides. I feel that will be quite difficult now,” says the CM’s wife.