says Rohit Roy

In that scenario how do you manage time for your wife?
With Manasi it is a bit of a different scenario as both of us are from the same profession, which helps. Both of us understand the constraints on each other's time and try to work around it. The scene would have been completely different if my wife was not from my profession and would not have understood the lifestyle of an actor.

So what makes your marriage work?
Love (grins happily), everything else is secondary. But what makes us click is our compatibility. In my case I have known for almost a decade now, so there is a sense of comfort, a dependence that keeps it going. Every once in a while we get into this girlfriend/boyfriend mode which keeps the romance alive. I mean, that streak of romance has to be there; it keeps the whole thing fresh.

What is a meaningful relationship according to you? Be it a parent-sibling, life partner or a friend? What is the main ingredient of a meaningful relationship?
Friendship comes first, be it your brother or sister, mother or father, wife or whoever. Of course, it does not mean that if you have a meaningful relationship you don't have fights or you don't have your disagreements. But you mature in a relationship that is based on friendship and that takes you forward. Like me and my brother are not friends, he is more of a father figure to me and in that respect our relationship is awkward, but I am great friends with my mother. I can share anything with her; be it problems, laughter, anything. I share a relationship of friendship with my wife and hopefully when Kiara grows up I will have a friendly relationship with her as well.

What according to you is the effort that needs to be put in, in order to make a relationship work?
If you had asked me this question probably three years back I would have said that any relationship that requires an effort won't work. But one has to work at a relationship in terms of very small things like if the other person is in a bad mood or just has had a bad day, one needs to understand and give space. Not take offense. My father always used to say that a solid tree will break in a storm but a palm tree will only bend, it won't be uprooted. In that sense one has to swallow one's pride/ego in many situations and be a lot more giving.

Has marriage taught you that?
Yes, definitely marriage has taught me that. Living with a person, sharing lot of things with each other makes you realize that. Lots of your ideas about things change and you learn to give in. If you want something to work, you have to work at it.

In that sense, marriage has changed you. So would you say you believe in the transforming power of love?
No, not love but marriage. I have been in love in the past but that did not transform me. My marriage did. I am not as impatient as I used to be?I am a lot more mature. And I don't know how but it is a fact that being a husband and being a father has made me a much better actor.

What has been the contribution of Manasi in making your marriage a success?
(In all earnest) Without doubt I give all credit to her. Honestly, for a woman a marriage is lot tougher as she has to manage a lot of roles. She has to juggle between her work (if she wants to work that is), manage her house, children and perform on all fronts, be it as a mother, wife, daughter-in-law etc. Manasi, has managed these roles excellently. She makes all the decisions at home and wisely. In some of the important matters we do discuss things, but most of the times I leave it to her. I have a quick temper and a tendency to jump into things quickly. I have learnt the hard way to discuss things with her before making an important decision. In that respect I feel I am really lucky. I would say that the success of our relationship is 70% because of her and 30% because of me.

So what is your idea of an ideal partner? Would you say Manasi is your ideal partner?
Ideal is a mixed term. There is nothing like an ideal partner, as when you are looking for an ideal you are looking for perfection, which does not exist. For me, I would say, Manasi is the person I really like living with. She is my idea of a life-partner.