Actor Tanuj Virwani and his wife Tanya Jacob have been blessed with a baby girl on September 24. Tanuj, who is extremely happy and on cloud nine, said, "The delivery was smooth. I was with her throughout, and the entire process was incredible. Tanya was in pain but she behaved like a champ and she braved it all. The moment was surreal and witnessing the entire process in real time was incredible. No matter how much you build these happy moments and when you actually go through it you realise it's an incredible blessing."

The couple hasn't thought of any names yet. Tanuj added, "We look at the janamkundli before deciding the name. The last one year has been great. This year, last time, I wasn't even married and now I am a father so it is a beautiful start to a new chapter of our lives."

Sharing how his mom, actress Rati Agnihotri reacted, Tanuj said, "She was crying with tears in her eyes. She is completely over the moon and happy to become a grandmother."

Tanuj in an earlier interview had shared how he was excited to become a father soon. He said, "It was chat-mangni-pat-byaah and now we are on our way to starting a family. Honestly, I did not expect to become a father so soon, but I consider this gift as God's blessings. Tanya and I wanted to start a family right after our marriage in December and luckily, it happened. My parents, especially my mom (Rati Agnihotri), are ecstatic that she is going to become a grandmother. She could not believe it when we broke the news and even I was overwhelmed when Tanya told me about it. We are both hoping to have a happy, healthy child. We do not have any preferences."

On the work front, Tanuj was last seen hosting Splitsvilla 15 and he is currently seen in a web series Murshid with Kay Kay Menon.

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There has always been pressure to live up to the name and legacy created by my mother, Rati Agnihotri, especially when I started my career. I have often been referred to as a 'Nepo Kid,' which I have never liked because my journey has been very different. My mother was not in the industry for a long time before I entered films, so it would be unfair to say that I had easy access to opportunities. However, I am glad that things are changing now. I am being recognised and cast based on my previous projects, not solely because I am my mother's son

My mother (Rati Agnihotri) is my biggest critic. She watches all my shows and films, and there have been instances where my character is loved by the audience, but my mother would be unhappy. She points out the tiniest elements that I might need to improve. And if she loves my performance, she appreciates it wholeheartedly. Actor-to-actor communication is very helpful, especially when she has so much experience that comes in handy for me

I never envisioned myself becoming an actor. I was overweight and had a severe stammer, which led me to believe that I could excel in behind-the-scenes roles. So, I began working as an assistant director in movies and also wrote and directed short films. Even now, I hold onto the hope that someday I can unleash my untapped potential in storytelling and direction

Entering the world of OTT was not a conscious decision for me; rather, it was somewhat of a last resort to prove myself. Despite having done three films—Luv U Soniyo (2013), Purani Jeans (2014), and One Night Stand (2016)—I was still not getting offered interesting roles. Then, unexpectedly, OTT emerged as a viable option. Back in 2016-17, this medium was not as significant as it is now. However, I consider myself fortunate to have secured projects like Inside Edge, Code M, and Cartel in the initial years, which helped me maintain relevance within the OTT realm. Presently, I aspire to take another leap and reintroduce myself to the film industry, aiming for a successful career in both domains. Several projects are in the pipeline, and I hope to conclude this year on a high note

Each project has its own process, sometimes you play with your physique or your voice depending on the character. I focus a lot on how my character should look, because I believe if the look is correct half of your battle is won. Experimenting with your character is most important for any actor, otherwise you can keep on doing the same kind of role and that’s not what I like to do. For instance, as Vayu in Inside Edge I have paced up my speech since the character is like that, and in Cartel as Major Bhau, I have brought the thehraav that my character needs. Moreover, it is important to enjoy the process, and if you fail during experimenting it’s fine, not every dart sticks to the board, at least 1 out of 10 will

When you're working on a film, you know it will have a theatrical release, appealing to the masses and potentially eliciting varied responses. However, in the case of OTT, each streaming platform caters to a distinct audience base. This understanding helps in choosing the right projects and bringing your character to life in a way that doesn't disappoint the viewers.

I believe in staying true to the roles I select because it's easy for the audience to detect fake acting. I learned early in my career the saying, ‘You start acting when you stop acting,’ and this realization came to me when I had the opportunity to work with actors like Kay Kay Menon and Vijay Raaz. Being as authentic as possible on screen is what the audience loves.

Om Puri with Rati Agnihotri and Sunil C Sinha

Over five years after his demise, Om Puri’s swansong Khela Hobe is gearing up for release. Director Sunil C Sinha’s movie tapped into the late actor’s humorous streak, depicting him as a leader who contests elections for several years unsuccessfully, believing that he has the public’s support. 

Though Khela Hobe rolled in 2016, it was stuck in the cans for the past six years. Asked about the inordinate delay in the movie’s release, Sinha says, “We had completed post-production by the end of 2019. But due to the pandemic, we were unable to release the film in theatres.”

The project, also starring Rati Agnihotri and Mugdha Godse, is now slated to hit the marquee on June 24. The makers recently took the film to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which greenlit it, save for one change.

The writer-director says, “In the film, Om ji’s rival is a woman. The censors objected to a scene that saw him abusing her. We had to remove the dialogue.”

Ek Duuje Ke Liye was one of the biggest hits of the 80s. The film, which starred Kamal Haasan and Rati Agnihotri, catapulted its lead stars to instant fame. Interestingly, the latter’s son, actor Tanuj Virwani says that his family acquired the rights to Ek Duuje Ke Liye years ago.

Tanuj says, “Ek Duuje Ke Liye was a super hit film. It is an evergreen love story and a few years ago, we felt that it should be remade, so we bought the rights. The plan to remake it was in process, but I got busy with my OTT projects. As of now, the plan to make Ek Duuje Ke Liye 2 is on hold, but we plan to make it someday.”

Given his interest in remaking the film, it comes as a surprise when the actor says that he is not in favour of remaking cult movies. He says, “Honestly, I am not a fan of remakes. When a film becomes a big hit, it should be left alone. Unless you really have a great script, one should not tamper with it. I remember how a masterpiece like Shaukeen directed by the legendary Basu Chatterjee, which had my mother in an important role along with Mithun Chakraborty, Utpal Dutt and Ashok Kumar, was a big hit. Then it was remade (as The Shaukeens) and my mother had a cameo in it. While it was a good effort, I preferred the original film.”

Ask Tanuj if he is apprehensive about being compared to his mother and Kamal Haasan if he were to feature as a lead in the remake and he says, “Comparisons are a natural thing and bound to happen. Earlier, when I used to go for auditions, people knew me as Rati Agnihotri’s son and would compare me to my mother. If we remake the film, it is important that audiences connect with the script because content has changed a lot in the past 30 years and audiences’ tastes have changed, too.”

Actor Tanuj Virwani is relieved that his father has got his first dose of the Covid vaccine. However, he misses his mother, yesteryear actor Rati Agnihotri who has been in Poland since March 2020.

“I’m currently registered, but my number hasn’t come yet (for vaccination). Hopefully, it’ll happen soon. I’m really happy that my father has got the first dose. I can rest peacefully knowing he’s halfway there,” says Virwani.

Agnihotri has set up a bunch of restaurants with her sister in Poland and had travelled last year with her pet Stuart Little, but hasn’t been able to travel back to India owing to the restrictions.

The actor is somewhat relieved that she’s away from the worrisome situation in India.

However, Virwani is quick to mention, “That’s another major cause of concern, what’s happening in Poland. They keep announcing lockdown. I had taken time off from work and was going to fly to Poland via Germany in December last year. I wanted to spend time with mom and celebrate Christmas and New Year’s. But they suddenly went into this massive lockdown. It’s like we’re playing musical chairs, when they lift their lockdown, we (India) go into one.”

It has been almost 14 months since the actor and his mom have met. “Now she can’t come back, but I’m happy she’s there because I don’t want her here with the way things are in India right. It’s a worrying situation,” admits Virwani.

Noting how uncertainty and rising cases of Coronavirus in Mumbai are troubling, he adds, “It’s bad enough that I’ve to be troubled about one parent, I don’t have to worry much about both. When Poland has five to ten thousand cases in a day, they put a lockdown. It’s better to panic in this situation and be doubly careful,” concludes the Inside Edge actor.

While many people have reunited with their families after getting stuck due to the Coronavirus pandemic in foreign countries, senior actress Rati Agnihotri has had no such luck and is still stuck in Poland. The actress had flown there in mid-March last year as she and her sister had opened a chain of eateries in Poland. She had taken her pet dog, Stuart Little, along with her.

Rati’s son, actor Tanuj Virwani said, “It has been a year since I saw my mother. My father and I have been living without her for a long time now. The problem is not with her travelling back, but the authorities are not allowing her pet to travel back with her. He is a small pocket dog and they are not allowing him in the hand luggage either. My mother is quite attached to her pet and does not want to return without him. Since Poland does not have many Coronavirus cases, she is busy tending to the eateries that she has set up there. But we want her to come back now. There are a new set of rules even for pets once they land in India. They have to quarantine separately and we intend to follow the rules. But, as of now, my mother will remain in Poland till we find a way for Stuart Little to travel back with her.”

Years ago, the Ek Duuje Ke Liye actress had opened up about the domestic abuse she endured in her marriage and had also filed a complaint with the police against her husband Anil Virwani. Recounting how those traumatic days are behind them, Tanuj said, “We live in a nuclear family and I grew up as a single child. Those days, I felt that there were bleak chances of my parents getting together, because I had seen everything first-hand and I knew the truth. But now, I am glad that my parents have resolved all their issues. Every marriage goes through ups and downs. I am just relieved that those things are sorted now and we are a happy family, who stay and holiday together. My mother has withdrawn her police complaint.” He added, “Whether it is your parents, siblings or children, people have to love each other in spite of anything. I am happy that my parents were able to iron out their differences. We are all much happier now.”

I was crushed on hearing the news. I remember working with Chimpu on Zabardast (1985), which was directed by Nasir Hussain and had Aamir Khan serving as the assistant director. We were shooting by the pool at Fariyas Resort in Panchgani. Just before we were to can a scene, Chimpu threw me in the pool. My costume was soaked, and we didn’t have an alternate outfit for the sequence. Nasir saab was furious as he had to cancel the shoot. I still vividly remember how he got an earful from Nasir saab. But then, that was Chimpu — full of life! His style reminded me of Shammi uncle. 

During our Lonavala stint, he decided to spook the unit members. The house where they were staying was secluded and eerie. So, one night, Sunny Deol, Chimpu, our co-producer and I went there and frightened the crew members by making strange noises. The next day, everyone on set was discussing how the house was haunted. We couldn’t stop laughing. What lovely days they used to be!   

I will always remember Chimpu as the ever-smiling prankster. May his soul rest in peace.

It might be easy to presume that acting is just a hobby for Tanuj Virwani. After all, the 29-year-old, who is the son of actress Rati Agnihotri, hails from an affluent background. But when you meet him, his earnest attitude and desire to succeed dispel these notions. He displays maturity as he speaks of his past failures and his parents' turbulent relationship. In a heart-to-heart chat with BT, he talks about playing peacemaker between the two and why his upcoming film One Night Stand is crucial for his career.

How difficult was it to cope with the struggles of being an actor, especially since you come from a well-to-do background?
I am a single child who has always been pampered by his parents. I have the advantage of not rushing into a decision and signing a film. But that's where it ends. The struggle is still there. I sat at home for eight months after my second film, Purani Jeans, didn't do well. I gave auditions but nothing was working out. I felt life was cruel but I had to let the dust settle. It was extremely frustrating as I am career oriented and have the hunger to do well. My mom told me that I should never sign a film for the wrong reason, no matter how long I have to wait. She said, 'You can't disown a film, so be proud of what you do'.

It's been a year since the news of your parents' alleged separation surfaced.
They haven't separated. Mom was going to file for a divorce but she didn't. My parents took some time off from their marriage to work out their differences and now, they are very much together.

Your mother had accused your father of domestic violence.
I don't want to get into details because it's a 'he said, she said' situation. As a son, I cannot say what they should or shouldn't have done. At that point, I had to be a mediator and a pillar of strength for both of them. Having said that, I cannot take credit for sorting out their differences as they are twice my age. Things are a lot better now. In fact, we went to Lonavala a few months ago to celebrate their anniversary.

Did that phase make you grow overnight?
When the news surfaced, I was away for a shoot. It was a difficult time and it affected me deeply. As a child, you are shielded by your parents from the harsh realities of life. So, when they are facing any issues, we have to take charge. It's tough because they become more rigid and childish as they grow old. I think in the past one year, I have grown a lot as an individual.

Has it changed your perception towards marriage?
All of us have to chart our individual paths in our lives. I would like to believe that whatever I have seen doesn't have a negative impact on my life. I have to stay positive.

Your upcoming film, One Night Stand, stars Sunny Leone. Do you think her presence ensures visibility to the project?
Yes, it's a big plus. You need a saleable star to draw the audience to watch the film. I make no bones about the fact that I am not a star, so if I have to piggyback on someone else's success to get noticed in a film, I don't have a problem.

The topic is morally unacceptable to many. Were you apprehensive about it?
Unless you are rubbing someone the wrong way, you are not doing your job right. You have to have a reaction to something, whether it's positive or negative. As far as the name of the film is concerned, the makers have made a smart decision. When you have a title like One Night Stand and a film that stars Sunny Leone, it will grab eyeballs. The crux of the film is what happens post a one-night stand and the damage it does to individuals and families.

Have you had one-night stands?
I have had one-night stands while in college. Personally, I have nothing against them but in the longer run, it's not the way ahead, especially if you are in a relationship or married. Priorities change. I think all of us go through this phase.

So you don't consider it to be a taboo?
Absolutely not. If it works for both parties who are we to judge.

How was it working with Sunny?
I used to call her Funny Leone on set because she has a deadpan sense of humour, which many people don't get. I found it hilarious and refreshing. We would chat and crack jokes.

Did you have a certain image of her in mind before you met her?
I was a little intimidated by her as she is a star. But she was extremely caring. I am a foodie but had to diet as I had to go shirtless for a few scenes in this film. She suggested that I should at least eat some fish.

Were you nervous during the love-making scenes?
I was a bundle of nerves. People would ask me if it was fun and I would say there are 50 people on set and a DOP is giving you instructions. It's mechanical but it has to look sensual. Sunny made me feel comfortable during the scenes. If people like me in this film, the credit should go to her and our director Jasmine Moses D'Souza.

When producer L.V. Prasad approached her dad for the Hindi remake of the 1978 Telugu hit, Maro Charitra, Rati Agnihotri already had lots of offers from big banners. But after watching the original, Roop Agnihotri decided Ek Duuje Ke Liye would be his daughter's Bollywood debut because even though he hadn't understood a word, he was really moved by the story of Vasu and Sapna, who overcome parental opposition, linguistic barriers and the North-South divide, but their love story still ends tragically with the couple jumping off a cliff. Also, Rati was not expected to sign a three-year or a three-film contract like other star aspirants.

Kamal Haasan and Madhavi, along with director K Balachander, singer S P Balasubrahmanyam and the rest of the team from the Telugu original were retained. The only one replaced was leading lady Saritha. “They wanted a Punjabi girl to play Sapna and I probably caught their eye because I was a rare North Indian girl doing well down South after the super success of my first Tamil film, Puthiya Vaarpugal,“ smiles Rati.

The 16-year-old schoolgirl wasn't allowed to see the original film because the makers didn't want her aping Saritha. Too young to understand passionate, rebellious love, Rati simply plunged into the shoot, not in awe of her superstar hero or her critically acclaimed director. “The only problem was that I didn't speak a word of Tamil so when Balachander sir suddenly veered from English to Tamil while explaining a scene to me, I'd look at him blankly till Prasadji stepped forward to take over as interpreter and guide,“ she reminisces with a laugh.

Shooting Mere Jeevan Saathi inside the cramped elevator of a five-star hotel in Chennai was easy. But lying on blazing sand in a beach in Visakhapatnam in 40-plus temperature while Kamal spun a top on her bare midriff and the camera moved from her giggling face to her navel, was an ordeal. “Today, when someone asks me how I balanced the top, I don't have an answer. Those days we didn't have monitors, the luxury of too many rehearsals or retakes. I did what was expected of me, telling myself it was like dramatics day in school, only instead of the stage I was facing a camera,“ she reasons.

The only time her smile slipped was when bad man Sunil Thapa turned up on the sets. “He was a nice guy but because he was mean to me in the film, I took it personally and didn't speak to him. He terrified me,“ she recalls.

He plays a librarian who rapes her at a temple where she's gone to meet Kamal who is waylaid by some goons. “The climax shoot was tough. I had to walk up the cliff and steep steps leading up to the temple, barefoot. I had blisters on my feet from the heat and cuts from the rocks. Then we had to roll around on the rocks, before jumping off the cliff. I didn't realise when shooting how devastating Vasu and Sapna's death would be for young viewers. There was a string of suicides amongst teenage lovers after the release. Tragic!“ she sighs.

Rati Agnihotri whose personal life made headlines following allegations of domestic abuse against her husband, Anil Virwani, sounded upbeat when Mirror caught up with her on Sunday. The actress has just returned from a two-week schedule of Singh Is Bliing in Punjab. “I was shooting every single day. The hours were long but it was a great shoot with Akshay (Kumar) and Prabhu Dheva,“ she asserts.

Rati plays Akshay Kumar's mother in the film. A Punjabi lady who, she admits, wears a lot of bling too. “She has a lot of my traits, including the bonding I share with my son Tanuj,“ she admits. But while Tanuj is 28, Akshay is 47. Rati is unperturbed, “In cinema you can take creative and cinematic liberties. Age is just one of the many factors that go into making a character sketch. As an actress I'm happy that I've got a chance to play women of different ages,“ she says diplomatically, refusing to reveal any other details, not even this beeji's name. “That's the discretion of the producer.“

When Mirror had visited her at her Worli apartment earlier, she'd been in the midst of a costume fitting and had quickly rejected fabrics that were uncomfortably stiff or would fan out when cut into Patiala salwars. The exact length of the slit of a kurta was specified and jootis, she insisted, would have to be sanded first so they didn't skid. The frames of glasses were also discussed, along with the fake jooda. A lot of thought had gone into prepping up to become Akki's mom. “I loved him in Singh is King. And though Singh Is Bliing is nothing like the earlier film, I'm sure you'll love him in this one too. The character has borrowed a lot from him. He's a great son, both in reel and real life. He's in regular touch with his mother and family even when he's away from home, shooting.“

Interestingly, cricketer Yuvraj Singh's father, Yograj Singh, who was last seen playing Farhan Akhtar's coach in Bhaag Mikha Bhaag, is playing Akshay's father and Rati's on-screen husband. “He's well cast and a hugely talented actor,“ compliments Rati. Did Yuvi drop in on the sets? “Not when I was there,“ she says.

While her beta takes off for an outdoor schedule now, Rati will wrap up an earlier commitment and hold talks on future projects before she joins the blingy Singhs again.

In her own family, mum's the word!

Rati Agnihotri, 54, has completed 37 years in the film industry She recently surprised everyone when she filed a complaint of .domestic violence against her husband of over 30 years, Anil Virwani. While Rati so far chose not to speak, sitting in her plush top floor apartment in Worli, she opens up for the first time to Bombay Times to tell us her side of the story. Excerpts.

You have not spoken to any media.What makes you speak to us?
I would have sooner or later spoken about it and would have spoken to only you about it, but given the reports that have come out, I have no choice but to speak now.

You have been married for over 30 years. What made you take so long to go to the police?
I was not delaying deliberately, but was thinking of how to approach it. When I came out of the police station, I was shocked to see so many reporters there and wondered who had called them. I don't have a PR machinery. I am a single person representing myself, being my own voice, being my own strength. I did not go to the press, I just went to the police station. I know this is the price one has to pay for being a celebrity. But it's my life. I am not sitting for people to judge why now and why not then? I want my life back. Is that wrong? I know what my priorities are. I know what my priorities have been. All these years, it's not that I lacked the strength. It is just that I had the focus to not disturb my son.

Why did you choose to go away from Mumbai after filing the complaint?
I went away for a few days to Lonavala to my farmhouse. My father passed away before I got married. My mom is 80 years of age and lives in Pune. About 10 months ago, she had a brain stroke and she is in the last lap of her life. My elder sister lives in Poland past 39 years, so I have no support system here. Apart from my own home, I also look after my mother and her home. After filing the complaint with the police, I was really scared to come back here. It took me a few days to get the courage to come back and do what I have to do. And to also rethink as it's a huge decision, given my marriage of 30 years. Does marriage really mean that you are sold to a person? Is it so tough to get your life back? I wanted to take this step elegantly, but if that's not possible, then so be it.

What made you take the decision finally to make the complaint?
What made me decide to go ahead and do what I had to do was not just an event or a few events. It is due to the collective events of almost as long as my marriage, starting with small small things and I realised that this is really not going anywhere. I have made a lot of adjustments, but it was not acceptable to me anymore. It was abuse in every form, a lot of beating, a lot of mental, emotional and financial abuse. I now want to live. Don't I have the right to live happily? I want to do lots of good work. I want to change my priorities. Tanuj being my most important priority. He has always been a very good son and I do respect him in any capacity that he may wish to talk, speak or take decisions for himself given the situation. I know how unconditionally his love has been for me. The only only reason for me to have gone through this is Tanuj. I put this in the past tense as for me, it is the past tense now. He is and will always remain my son and he told me, 'Mom, get a life. Do whatever makes you happy. Don't live for me anymore.' That has just set me free. Tanuj is also having to cope with a lot of uncalled for things. It's a very small family. Just three of us live here.

Why did Tanuj not intervene three weeks back when this incident occurred?
That day and for the past many years, he has not been around when my husband has beaten me. Tanuj has either been out or been upstairs, where you can't listen to what is happening downstairs where my husband and I live. We have a pretty large home. When this incident happened three weeks back, one staff was two just weeks old and one staff was not even a month old and they were sleeping in the other end of the house. The door is shut between where the servants were and where my husband and I were. There is a planning, a thought process, and there is clearly a pattern and I don't even want to judge it anymore. I took it and the reasons were my own. Even if I say today that I took it for my child or that because I don't have any immediate family to go to. My sister had told me 20 years ago, 'Walk out'. My closest friend told me walk out, what am I doing in this sick environment, but I didn't. I had my own reasons. I have to now stop being this ever-so-responsible person.

Did you hit your husband back?
I don't have any strength left. I am older. Initially, I would be able to protect myself, but now I am not able to. I realise that age is something and I needed to take this step.

Do you love your husband now?
I used to when I got married. But not for the past many years. We have been living in two different parts of the house. He is the father of my son and I tried my best not to break up the family.

Are you both on talking terms after the complaint? Has there been any incident again?
No. How would he dare touch me now? Would I not take it up strongly with the cops then? It's not going down well with me anymore. I don't want any emotion to get the better of me now as I wasted enough of my years.

Has he apologised for that night?
There is no conversation and it is better that he does not cross my path now for the interest of everybody. It is my house. Financially, I have always been independent. Financially, I want to know who is dependent on whom?

Who is your emotional anchor?
My son Tanuj to a point. At this point, I am not letting emotions get the better of me as it is a wasted emotion. I am trying, though it's really hard.I am being practical.

Don't you have to prove domestic violence to the authorities, for instance show bruises etc. to them?
The authorities have all the proof and I know that I am not misusing it.

Your plan for the future?
Lots of good work. I am so happy to be playing Akshay Kumar's mother in Singh Is Bliing. I am so passionate about films. Slowly and surely, all this will be the past. I am looking forward to a beautiful, calm, peaceful and happy life, where I can do the things I had stopped doing last 30 years. I just want to keep myself as priority now. I had become very introverted due to this and had faced a lot of humiliation. I had started losing my self-respect, which the intelligence in my mind didn't allow.

My own mind was questioning my own actions. I have been an achiever from the age of 10. But I gave up everything to get married at 23. The world has loved me so much, why can't I love myself ? Actually, I am also very proud of myself that I could have the strength and the courage to tolerate this for 30 years. People could have run away in a month. I am a happy, gregarious person, who loves to laugh and giggle. I like to do a lot of masti and have fun.

After filing the complaint, is it not uncomfortable for you and your husband to be living in the same house?
It is very, very uncomfortable. Right now also, am I safe? I live in a home where most of the doors are glass. I have just one bedroom where I have been residing for many years, which has a wooden door. How safe am I to even exit from here and go out? I have told the authorities and the only reason that there has been a go slow is that there are certain things I need to discuss with Tanuj. It is now unacceptable for me any longer. I was giving Tanuj the space to think as he has just come back from an outdoor and there has been such a huge mess in his head. But my decision is inevitable. It is a taken decision. I look forward to living my life alone now. I have been independently running everyone's needs. Now I will be just looking after the needs of my son in the capacity of a mother, which will definitely never change. I have ample communication with him and we still have great times. Even last night till 1.30-2, we were joking and laughing sitting on my bed. He came down and I heard sounds in the kitchen and I came out and he had made the most delicious lobsters. He got his khana, sat on my bed and I was eating from his plate and it was really yummy. I am aware of everything happening in his life and he is aware of every step that I am taking and everything that is happening in my life. I have been telling him for very many years that I would go to the police and I told him even this time when I went.

Do you feel embarrassed as a celebrity since your personal issue is now public?
I don't feel embarrassed as I have not done anything wrong. In fact, I feel very proud of what I have done. I took that step and may in the future, be an example to many women who may be undergoing this. But let me just say that in this whole thing, I don't want to hurt anybody, it is my passage of extremely tough times. I just hope, pray, wish and request all of you to hold me and take me to the natural end and truth. I am in a very dark tunnel, but I know that there will be a light at the end of it.

It's been around two weeks since Rati Agnihotri registered a case of harassment against her husband, Anil Virwani, pressing charges under IPC sections 498A, 323 and 506 for torture, assault and report edly issuing death threats.But so far, there has been no breakthrough in the case as cops at the Worli police station claim that they have not been able to further investigate the matter due to the actress's “ill health“. “She seems to be unwell and mentally depressed. We need to meet her and take a list of witnesses from her to go any further,“ said an investigating officer. “Her husband maintains that he has not done anything wrong,“ he further added.

After the complaint was lodged, Rati is said to have been with her mother at Lonavala. When contacted this time around, Rati said, she was in a meeting and asked us to call her back in a couple of hours. Later, when we called her again, the actress said that she was driving, and asked us to send her a text message, but she never reverted to our queries.

Meanwhile, the couple's son, Tanuj, says that the incident has landed him in a strange and uncomfortable situation. “I myself was quite taken aback and shocked. I heard it from the media. We live in a duplex and I live on another floor. I'm not aware of anything. Nothing was brought to my attention, nothing ever happened in front of my eyes,“ he said, further adding, “It is their (my parents) private matter, it is between a husband and wife. I have good equations with both my parents. I'm a happy person.“