Sujata says alvida
The tele actress is seeking legal separation from husband of 24 years
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| moving on: Sujata Kumar |
Shaheen Parkar
shaheen@mid-day.com
Telly actress Sujata Kumar, elder sister of actress-singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthi and sister-in-law of filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, has filed for divorce after 24 years of marriage.
Sujata, who turned to acting a few years ago, has been on the television circuit for over two years. She is seen in the SAB show, Left Right Left, playing mother to Naina (Priyanka Bassi). Earlier, Sujata featured in shows like Bombay Talking (Zee Caf), Hotel Kingston (Star One) and Chi and Me (Zee).
Taking a call
When asked about the divorce, Sujata is forthright. "There are certain times in life when you have to take a decision. It is your call and once you have made up your mind; you stick to it. You come to a situation when you feel it is better this way now."
The actress admits that the reason why she moved to Mumbai from Bangalore where her chartered accountant husband B A Kumar is based, was "to find her own space and do a rethink on her marriage."
Three months back, she took the decision to seek legal separation. "There are several people who tell me, 'What is the need to go through all this? Anyway you are leading your life and he is leading his; so why now after over two decades of marriage?' But after a lot of thought and introspection, I feel it is better this way. Either you brush aside the issue or take it on."
Incompatibilty
So what went wrong after all these years? "Things just can't go wrong overnight. Some-times relationships sour and sometimes they just don't take off. And then, over time, you feel it is better to let go and move on."
Sujata has a teenaged daughter Krittika who lives in Bangalore with her father. "She is studying in class X1 at Bishop Cotton School there. She is a grown-up girl and knows what is happening. Initially, when I took up acting, she wondered what made me do it overnight and was a tad embarrassed. But now she is cool about it and watches all my shows and commercials. She tells me 'you are a rock star' now."
Corporate leanings
Sujata had an arranged marriage and lived for over a decade in Muscat, Oman, where her husband was based. The couple decided to relocate to India in 1996 and set up base in Bangalore. In Muscat, Sujata kept herself busy with corporate gaming which involves hosting live interactive games for company employees to facilitate team-building. When she shifted to Bangalore, she continued with corporate gaming.
"I made my acting debut late in life. It began just for the heck of it. I had my portfolio done and began modelling. I had friends in the media who put me on to production houses," says the 40-plus Sujata who prefers to live by herself. "My parents live in Mumbai and so does Chotu (that's how she calls sister Suchitra) but I need to find my own space," says Sujata, who is also looking at big screen assignments.
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