I have always craved for marriage: Sushmita

Bollywood diva Sushmita Sen talks to Subhash K Jha on life today, movies, marriage and the man in her life.

She enjoys doing David Dhawan films, doesn’t like being called a ‘diva’, and believes love and marriage are part of cosmic design.

How has life been treating you?
Fabulously! I’m 31, and rocking. And though at times I do explore other options, I wouldn’t have my life any other way. 2006 has been personally tough. But I’m an eternal optimist.

I say, ‘All right God, you’ve chosen me for this tough test. But please don’t make it into a habit’. I’m His favourite child. I wish the same for everyone.

Was 2006 your toughest year?
That would be hard to say.. I’ve faced all the hardships in my life as and when they’ve hit me. Whether it was the sudden spurt of success as Miss Universe at 18; or the battle in courts to adopt my daughter Renee; or my relationships, failed or successful, they’ve all been full of turmoil when it happened.

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At 31, I realise nothing has been that bad because at 45 I’ll feel everything has been pretty much worth the while.

There’s an insatiable appetite to know more about your current man Manav. Why are you for once so secretive about your relationship?
As you get acclimatised to the media, you adopt a less bindaas approach to the limelight. Right now I feel, this is my life and I don’t need to justify myself.

As you mature, you realise relationships aren’t just about one person. The privacy of the other party in a relationship does matter. I may not be secretive about the relationship. The other person is. That’s it. It isn’t easy specially when pushed to a corner about being answerable about my relationship. As long as I can answer without compromising the other person, I do it.

As you get acclimatised to the media, you adopt a less bindaas approach to the limelight. Right now I feel, this is my life and I don’t need to justify myself.

As you mature, you realise relationships aren’t just about one person. The privacy of the other party in a relationship does matter. I may not be secretive about the relationship. The other person is. That’s it. It isn’t easy specially when pushed to a corner about being answerable about my relationship. As long as I can answer without compromising the other person, I do it.

I can’t let other people suffer for the choices I make in life. People are most welcome to be inquisitive about my life. I do enjoy sharing it.

So is this relationship more serious, therefore more private?
No the secrecy, as you call it, is purely because the person has asked me not to talk about it. I’d rather choose what my heart tells me to. I’ve a tremendously strong conscience. I’d never do something that makes me uncomfortable.

Do you feel the need to find a man who loves you for what you are rather than for being ‘The Sushmita Sen’?

God knows, the image is of no importance to me. And you can’t go looking for love. It would hardly depend on who I am. It will greatly depend on who he is.

I believe all the relationships you go through in life are actually a part of that cosmic design where love and mar riage finally finds you. I believe that will happen to me as well. Madhuri finally settled down with a US-based doctor who didn’t watch her films.

That’s tough to believe. But I’ll take your word for it. God bless Madhuri’s equation with her husband. I saw a picture of her with her husband and their two sons. And my heart melted! Blissful relationships are still possible in today’s world. As for me, I’d rather have a man see any and every thing I’ve ever done, and then be able to connect on a one-to-one level.