The actress tells us why she decided to end her “perfect relationship” with restaurateur Mauro Gazzi and move back from Paris to Mumbai
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; June 19, 2020)

In 2015, actress Shahana Goswami, who has been a part of films like Rock On!! (2008) and Ra.One (2011), moved to Paris with aspirations of making a mark in world cinema. In the process, she found love and began living in with Italian restaurateur Mauro Gazzi in the French capital. However, last year, Shahana moved back to Mumbai, ending her relationship of four years with Mauro.

“Many opportunities, in the form of web shows, were coming my way from India, while there was no work in Paris. So, I thought it was time to move back to Mumbai. For us, maintaining a long-distance relationship would not have been possible. Mauro has a delicatessen and pizzeria in Paris, and I knew that I would be busy in Mumbai. Amidst all this, we wouldn’t get time to travel and meet each other. So, we came to a practical conclusion. Of course, the parting was tough, and many tears were shed, but then we had to bid adieu,” says Shahana.

Though Shahana and Mauro are no more a couple, they keep in touch. “We are still friends and often speak to each other,” she shares. Talking about why they never gave marriage a thought, the actress says, “We don’t believe in the institution of marriage.” She adds, “A lot of people have been asking me, whether I came back because of the breakup. But the fact is that I went to Paris to take up international projects. I was a part of some good short films. In fact, I was going to direct one, but suddenly, I had good scripts coming my way from India. Also, it is tough for an Indian actor to survive in a foreign country. If I had great finances, maybe I would have extended my stay there.”

Now, back in Mumbai, Shahana is happy to be single. The actress says, “Though I stay alone, I don’t feel lonely. I have experienced a perfect relationship, and I know that it won’t get better than that. Our relationship was exactly the way I wanted it to be. Now, I don’t need a relationship in my life.”