Entrepreneur Anand opens up on building fashion brand with actor-wife and sustaining long-distance marriage
Anand S Ahuja and Sonam K Ahuja caught in a playful mood at the launch of his store in Mumbai. Pics/Sameer Markande
Over two months into his big, fat wedding, Anand S Ahuja has been shuttling in and out of Mumbai. Although admitting that his trips to the Maximum City have become more frequent, courtesy wife Sonam K Ahuja, the entrepreneur — who opened his clothing store, Bhane, in Khar yesterday — says his connect with Mumbai goes beyond her. "I have been coming to Bombay even before I met Sonam; my best friends are from here. I know more people here than in Delhi. However, my work is based out of the capital. So Sonam and I will be shuttling between the two cities for the time being."'
Though many modern couples may sneer at the idea of a long-distance marriage, Ahuja says it requires the same qualities as a conventional one — "patience and romance". "When it comes to marriage, small things matter a lot. We eat meals together, even if we are in different time zones, on Skype. We also actively make sure that we don't go over two weeks without seeing each other." Admitting to being hopelessly romantic, he reveals that their courtship too was old-school. "We would talk over the phone. It was seven weeks before we actually met. By then, we knew we were in love, but met in person to solidify it. At the end of the day, it's about being patient."
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If their shared idea of romance makes them a perfect match, their sharp eye for fashion makes theirs the perfect marriage in the world of couture. Hoping to build a brand with his fashionista wife, Ahuja says, "Sonam and I would love to build a brand together. She gets fashion, I get fabrics. Besides her [apparel line] Rheson, she is also involved with our label."
He credits the doting wife for giving a distinct shape to his Mumbai outlet too. "I got clarity on the label after I met Sonam. She is decisive and I am the exact opposite. She intuitively knows what's good for me. She has brought a lot of clarity to my life. This store reflects a personality thanks to her. We wanted to create a plaza — there is a coffee shop and a cupcake store. We wanted to create a niche brand with a unique story behind it. We are launching a new line in September."
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