Not bothered anymore with people calling me a womaniser
After a hiatus of nine years, Aashiqui (1990) star Rahul Roy is raring to regain his ’90s “foothold” in the industry. The Junoon (1992) and Phir Teri Kahaani Yaad Aayee (1993) actor was a screen sensation back in the day. However, at one point of time, the actor was also labelled a womaniser. In a chat, Roy talks about relationships and why love has eluded him in life.
After becoming popular as the Aashiqui guy of Bollywood, you were also labelled a womaniser. How did that affect you? Initially it did, but now I don’t have an issue. At that time, I had 40-odd films going on, and I was working 22 hours a day. Where was the time to settle down? I was [going] from one relationship to another. I was not stable in my personal life. People labelled me as a womaniser.
So, you did delay your marriage due to professional commitments? Every actor makes a sacrifice of their personal life. And where is the room for personal life? The professional life of an actor actually goes on 24X7. Even if you are not really shooting, how many of us can actually switch on and switch off? It (the industry) is highly insecure, and 99% of the time you don’t even realise that you are depressed.
When did you finally think of settling down in life?
At 33, I thought, ‘What the hell am I doing?’ I was going from one studio to another and chasing one film after the other. Like this, I would continue and then turn 40 and 50. Then I eventually found someone (Rajalaxmi Khanvilkar, former model) and got married.
After almost a decade and a half of your marriage, you both split in 2015. What went wrong?
Each person who I fell in love with wanted to change me. Before my marriage, my exwife and I had a courtship period. Why after the courting period did you want me to start changing? Also, in a relationship, everybody makes compromises but you don’t compromise on core values. It begins from there and over a period of time, you start questioning the foundation.
Do you regret not having a child? I missed that bus but that’s fine. I’m past the stage of regret as well. I never thought of adopting one because it’s a big responsibility. I just enjoy looking at others’ kids.