‘PEOPLE DON’T RESPECT THEIR PARTNERS NOW’

Actor Shamita Shetty feels that people don’t want to hold onto their relationships anymore

Actor Shamita Shetty (right) is 38 and is clearly in no rush to get married. Though her sister, actor Shilpa Shetty is already mother to a five-yearold son at the age of 42, Shamita says that she is taking it easy and is waiting for the “right man” to come into her life.

Asked if she ever gets pressured by her mother, Shamita says, “I won’t call it pressure. Every parent wants to see their child settle down. And initially, after I lost my dad, mom would be worried and all the focus comes on the other child, naturally. But I don’t really stress about it that much.”

What does Shilpa say on the subject? Shamita quips, “She is not concerned anymore now. She has understood that I need to find my own way, so she doesn’t pester me. When these things have to happen, they just happen. My doors are very much open but honestly, I haven’t found anyone that I can spend the rest of my life with.”

Shamita asserts that she has stayed single for so long because she isn’t really happy with the kind of things she sees in society today. “It’s scary what you see out there. People are in marriages and still doing their own things on the side. They don’t respect their partners enough and don’t hold onto relationships the way it was in the past,” she says.

The actor adds that marriage is sacred for her. “I don’t believe in this notion of falling in love today, getting married and if it doesn’t work, you go your own way. It’s not about that for me. I want a companion with whom I am going to be happy. And I don’t mind if the person comes into my life at a later stage, even when I am 40 or 50. I’m not going to sit and stress over it or plan things out,” says Shamita adding that she won’t prefer an actor as her life partner.

So who’s the ideal guy with whom she could spend the rest of her life? “He has to be someone who can make me laugh and has a drive and passion for whatever he does in his life. I can’t handle dishonesty. I like integrity in people and for me, that’s very important in a man,” says Shamita, who won’t mind knowing the person better, if he matches the criteria.

I don’t believe in this notion of falling in love, getting married and if it doesn’t work, you go your own way. It’s not about that for me SHAMITA SHETTY, ACTOR