Amrita Rao: My great mum's a lady of today

Amrita Rao: My great mum's a lady of today: Yesterday was Women’s Day. And like it has always been in the past, this year too it was a double celebration for actress Amrita Rao. What maked the day extra-special for the Bolly beauty was that the day also happened to be the birthday of the one woman who Amrita admits to be her true inspiration — her grand mum Sushila Rao. The actresss’ elaborate celebration plans for the day included surprising her daadi with home-baked banana and chocolate cakes, and sharing the senior Rao’s zest for life.

Talking about her grand mum, Amrita says that what makes her look up to her is the fact that she “embodies the strength of today’s women, with the grace, feminity and charm of the yesteryear women. She was never a working woman, but she was always way ahead of her times when it came to her outlook. She’s a woman of today! Through the years she does admit to having made a lot of adjustments like most women of her times did, but at the same time she has never let go of her respect and has imbibed that in the other women of the family too,” says Rao.

She adds, “The one thing that I’ve also learnt from her is that women should never give up their nurturing and sensitive streaks no matter how strong and independent they may become as career women.” Respecting your partner, making them feel extra special does not mean that you are letting go of your rights as a woman. So she sees no harm in a wife waiting to have dinner with her husband. But she has always also taught us that it has to be reciprocated, adds Rao.

“It’s a balance that I’ve always strived to maintain.” Rao does admit that she feels blessed to be born in today’s generation though. “Even my grand mum agrees with that. She is proud of me working and being so independent, but then so am I of her!” concludes Rao.