We regularly see pictures of star wives splashed across the internet, but how many of us actually know that there's more to these women than meets the eye? Many of them command respect for their own talents and are admired in their respective fields. On Mana Shett's birthday (August 22), we present to you the 14 most popular star wives who have much more to them than their actor husbands' stardom.
Updated On: 2019-08-22 11:41 AM IST
Mana Shetty: Suniel Shetty's wife Mana (Monisha Kadri) is a socialite and a successful businesswoman. She owns R-House, a lifestyle store in Mumbai, which has luxury decor and gift items. She is the director of a real estate project named S2, under which luxury villas are constructed. She also runs a clothing brand named 'Mana and Isha' along with her sister. On the social service front, Mana Shetty is associated with the 'Save the Children India' NGO. In a candid chat with mid-day in 2013, talking about her work Mana Shetty was quoted saying, 'Being called a celeb wife doesn't annoy me. But it would be nice if people recognize us as individuals too. We're all doing a lot of work in our own right. And we all do it because we are passionate about it. It's okay if people want to slot us into categories. I have no issues with that. However, I prefer to look at the brighter side. I'm doing so much and giving back to society in my own way by holding an exhibition for our NGO. But being married to Suniel has opened up so many doors for me. People treat me differently because I'm Mrs. Shetty. It's a passport to good things. I would be a hypocrite if I did not acknowledge that. It has only affected me positively and in fact, has helped me build my own identity.'
Maanayata Dutt: She is the CEO of Sanjay Dutt's production house - Sanjay Dutt Productions. The lady is an active socialite and an activist, who is a regular face of social campaigns. A lot of people aren't aware that her birth name is Dilnawaz Sheik. Maanayata was known as Sara Khan and some even called her Dilnawaz Khan in the film industry. After her debut with an item number in Prakash Jha's 'Gangaajal', Dilnawaz was given the screen name Maanayata by Jha. Her aspirations to become a star ended when her father died, leaving the responsibility of the family business to her.
Tanya Deol: Bobby Deol's wife Tanya Deol (Tanya Ahuja) is a famous costume designer. She also runs the business of furniture and home decor as the lady has studied interior design.
Sussanne Khan: She is more popularly known as Hrithik Roshan's ex-wife, but she has definitely left her own imprint with her accomplishments. Sussanne Khan has an Associate of Arts Degree in interior design from Brooks College in Long Beach, California. She is a successful interior designer, who has even worked on the homes of Priyanka Chopra and Rani Mukerji. The Charcoal Project, founded by her is also considered as the most popular design store in India. Sussanne Khan has also worked for The Label Life, an e-commerce fashion lifestyle company established in 2012. She was employed as the first in-house fashion designer for the company. In 2014, she launched the official branch of Pearl Academy campus in Mumbai and supporting the students of the academy by handling scholarships. Later, in 2015, she became the first Indian designer to join London-based design company YOO.
Maria Goretti: Before she was married to Arshad Warsi, Maria Goretti was a popular MTV VJ. She used to host a TV show, Do It Sweet. She may not have an exemplary Bollywood career, but she's one of the most popular celebrity chefs. Maria has hosted several TV shows including Do It Sweet on NDTV Good Times and I Love Cooking on Living Foodz. Her Instagram page is loaded with scrumptious food pictures.
Twinkle Khanna: Well, we know she doesn't need much of an introduction as the former actress' work in recent years has spoken enough about her. Her newspaper columns are a huge hit, her first book 'Mrs Funnybones' became so popular that it made her India's highest-selling female writer in 2015. Twinkle's second book 'The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad' got similar success. As a producer, she has 'Padman', 'Holiday: A soldier is never off duty', '72 Miles' (Marathi film) to her credit. She is definitely more than just her superstar husband Akshay Kumar's wife. The actress also published a new book Pyjamas Are Forgiving in 2018, which has received rave reviews. Twinkle also recently launched her own digital platform for women called Tweak.
Gauri Khan: Shah Rukh Khan's wife Gauri Khan (Gauri Chibber) is an interior designer and film producer. She co-owns the production house and distribution company Red Chillies Entertainment. In 2012, Gauri Khan launched her own line of furniture in partnership with Sussanne Khan's home store The Charcoal Project. In 2017, she also launched her flagship store 'Gauri Khan Designs' which offers a variety of selections in home decor. In November 2018, she made her debut on the list of Fortune India's 50 Most Powerful Women in business. Gauri has designed spaces for high-profile individuals such as Mukesh Ambani, Roberto Cavalli and Ralph Lauren.
Seema Khan: Sohail Khan's wife, Seema Khan (Seema Sachdev) is a well-known fashion designer. Very few know that Seema had designed the whole look of the lead character in the popular television show 'Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin'. Seema even launched a luxury concept retail boutique in Bandra, which is co-owned by Sussanne Khan and Maheep Kapoor. Khan also owns a beauty spa and salon called Kallista, in Mumbai.
Kiran Rao: Even before she married Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao was as an assistant director in Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan and later assisted Gowariker on Shah Rukh Khan's Swades. She had also worked as an assistant director on Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding. Rao is a screenwriter, producer and also directed her husband-actor Aamir Khan in Dhobi Ghat, which was critically acclaimed. Not only this, but Kiran Rao has also made a brief appearance in Aamir Khan-starrer Dil Chahta Hai. In recent times, Kiran Rao produced a documentary film titled Rubaru Roshni, which was narrated by Aamir Khan.
Maheep Kapoor: Sanjay Kapoor's wife Maheep Kapoor runs her own jewellery store 'Satyani Fine Jewels' in India and UK as well. Apart from being a successful jewellery designer, Maheep Kapoor also runs a boutique. It's a luxury retail boutique called Bandra 190, which is run by Maheep Kapoor in collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan's wife Gauri Khan and Sohail Khan's wife Seema Khan. Maheep is a former model and very few know that she was featured in Ila Arun's pop video Nigodi Kaisi Jawani Hai. The video released in 1994.
Bhavana Panday: Chunky Panday's wife Bhavana Panday co-owns 'LoveGen', a young and vibrant high street fashion brand. It is spearheaded by Nandita Mahtani and Dolly Sidhwani.
Priya Runchal: John Abraham's wife Priya Runchal is an NRI financial analyst and investment banker from the USA. Priya has done her MBA from London and has also studied law at the University of California, Los Angeles (USA).
Adhuna Bhabani: Though the couple parted ways a few years ago, Adhuna Bhabani was not just known as the wife of Farhan Akhtar but a famous hairstylist as well. In 1998, Adhuna first launched her salon, Juice, in Mumbai along with her brother and business partner, Osh Bhabani. Later, they changed the name to BBLUNT. Adhuna has done a hairdressing course at Worthington Hair, a salon in Northwest England. When she was 17, she had participated in and won the under-21 national junior hairstyling championship.
Mehr Jesia: Though they too have parted ways now, Mehr Jesia was famous even before she married Arjun Rampal. Well, the lady won the Femina Miss India 1986 and was a part of the first generation of Indian supermodels like Madhu Sapre, Feroze Gujral, Shyamolie Verma and Anna Bredmeyer.