I didn't want Shiney's fame to come home: Wife

Mumbai: She meets her Bollywood actor-husband Shiney Ahuja once a week in jail and hasn't seen her daughter for almost a month. Anupama Ahuja had once made a conscious decision to stay away from the limelight, but suddenly finds the spotlight on her family after her spouse was accused of rape.

Question: Your husband's bail application has been rejected?

Anupama Ahuja: Yes, it has been rejected. Shiney and I have both surrendered to the will of god. We both know the final verdict will come from up there from god. We also have faith that we'll come out of this and become stronger and closer to each other than we were ever before.

Question: Now that the fresh bail plea has been rejected what is your next plan of action?

Anupama Ahuja: Our lawyer will go again. We will go through the legal process and trust the judiciary completely. I will continue to walk with as much dignity as possible.

Question: Some people within the film industry seems to believe that you have abandoned Shiney and you don't go to meet him in jail?

Anupama Ahuja: That's rubbish. How can I abandon my soulmate? I've been with him for so many years. It happened just once. You know, he wasn't well and wasn't expected to go to court. That's why I wasn't with him that one time. The next thing I read that I had abandoned him. So ridiculous. How can I abandon him? He's not only my husband but also my baby's father. We've known each other for 15 years.

Question: Are you shocked by the scarcity of support from within the film industry?

Anupama Ahuja: No, I get a lot of SMS from the Shiney's colleagues. Maybe they aren't coming forward to speak visibly.

Question: What is the point of invisible support?

Anupama Ahuja: My biggest support is god. Not a leaf moves without his permission. It was in our destiny to go through this ordeal. From the industry, Anurag Basu, Sudhir Mishra, Producers Tito-Tony, Jahnu Baruah, Kunal Shivdasani, Pritish Nandy, Ketan Mehta and Soha Ali Khan have been supportive. Even I don't know many people from the industry. I never went out to be friend with them. Shiney and I had made a conscious decision that I should stay away from the limelight so that our child would grow up in a normal environment. I always wanted him to go out like any jobholder and come back home in the evening. I didn't want his fame to come home with him.

Question: You have coped well with much dignity?

Anupama Ahuja: My strength comes from god and my love for my husband.

Question: How is your little baby coping?

Anupama Ahuja: I haven't seen her since June 14. She is in Delhi with her maternal grandparents. I don't want her to get any of the negative vibrations around me.

Question: Doesn't it all seem unreal to you?

Anupama Ahuja: It's bizarre and illogical. It is suicidal. Nobody would do such a thing. You're right in your observation. But I can't say anything right now. Everything is subjudice. I don't want to hurt his case in any way. But this is not the Shiney I have spent 15 years with. This is someone else they're talking about.

Question: Do you still love him?

Anupama Ahuja: I love my husband. I love him more than ever. I derive strength from him. When I met him (in prison), he was emotional but he made me strong for both of us. Shiney and I talk to each other by talking to god.

Question: How frequently are you able to meet him?

Anupama Ahuja: Once a week.

Question: How is he coping?

Anupama Ahuja: At first he was unable to comprehend what was happening to him, and that's quite understandable. But with Sai Baba's strength he has come to terms with his predicament. He's coping better.

Question: Can you give him home made food?

Anupama Ahuja: No, it isn't allowed.

Question: Where are you staying in Mumbai, now that your house has been sealed?

Anupama Ahuja: No our home is not sealed anymore. I don't stay there permanently. But I go there. I'm dividing my time between our home and temples. I also stay at Ashok bhaiyya's (director Ashok Pundit) home.

Question: Shiney is very lucky to have a wife like you?

Anupama Ahuja: I'm lucky to have a husband like him. Seeing how he's coping with the crisis in our life, I'm proud of him than ever before.

Question: Do you hope to have a normal life again?

Anupama Ahuja: Oh we will. We've walked together for 15 years and will continue to do so. We've just encountered some bump in the road.