D R Ramkumar was so moved by the star's loving husband roles that he gave up his bank job to take care of his bedridden wife, also a Raj fan
D R Ramkumar was so moved by the star's loving husband roles that he gave up his bank job to take care of his bedridden wife, also a Raj fan
D R Ramkumar and Padmashree spent all of Sunday u2013 Dr Rajkumar's third death anniversary listening to their icon's sound tracks. And they've spent most of their married life living out the superstar's larger-than-life roles.
The beginning
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ABIDING: Ramkumar and Padmashree with their idol Rajkumar a few years after their marriage. They dreamed of love like in his movies, and have been steadfast in good times and bad. Right: Twenty seven years after their wedding, at their Rajajinagar home on Dr Rajkumar Road pic/Satish Badiger |
Ramkumar (56) and Padmashree (48) decided to get hitched in 1982 because both were ardent Raj fans. They hadn't even set eyes on each other but "we married in the belief that Raj's fans will possess the good qualities shown in his movies," said Ramkumar.
And the qualities shone when Padmashree was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), an incurable condition.
Inspired by Raj's superhits, Haalu Jenu and Bhagyavantharu, which show the superstar caring for his wife till the end, Ramkumar quit his job as an officer in Canara Bank in 2001 to take care of his bedridden wife.
"We always thought of leading our lives the way Raj did in his films. And now, it is real for us," added Ramkumar.
"He has inspired our lives," said Ramkumar. "It's because of Rajkumar that we are together today. His movies brought us together and we are living in harmony despite ouru00a0 hard times."
The one regret The couple, who begins their day by looking at Raj's picture, has nearly 2,000 photographs of the actor. And they also have every single song from Raj's movies. Their only regret is that they could not present it to him.
"Raj wanted a collection of all his songs. So, I compiled over 1,300 songs and 1,900 pictures to present to him on his birthday. But that was not to be," said Ramkumar.
"We are disappointed but he is alive for us and inspires us to live like this till we die," said Padmashree.
