Mother's are extra special, but these powerful ladies bring a lot more to the plate. On Women's Day 2019, we bring you a list of powerful female personalities who set huge examples at being great mothers as well
Updated On: 2019-03-08 10:30 AM IST
Nita Ambani: She is the wife of business tycoon Mukesh Ambani and one of the richest women in India. The two were married in 1985. Nita Ambani is the founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation. She is also the owner of IPL franchise Mumbai Indians as well as an art director. In 2014, she became a board member of Reliance Industries. She is noted for her work in education, philanthropy and promoting arts. She is the founder and chairperson of Dhirubhai Ambani International School. Nita and Mukesh Ambani have one daughter - Isha Ambani and two sons - Akash and Anant Ambani. Pic/ Instagram
In Pic: Neeta Ambani with daughter Isha Ambani
Tina Ambani: Former Bollywood actress Tina Munim married business tycoon Anil Ambani in 1991 and the couple has two sons, Jai Anshul Ambani and Jai Anmol Ambani. Jai Anmol Ambani is 26 years old and he is currently the executive director of Reliance Capital, the financial services arm of the Group. Jai Anshul Ambani is pursuing his education. Though Tina Ambani quit acting after her marriage, the former Bollywood actress is actively associated with healthcare, charitable foundations for senior citizens, promoting arts and culture and other notable CSR activities. She is currently the chairperson at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Harmony Art Foundation and Harmony for Silvers Foundation and is also the Chief Mentor and Advisor for the Strategic Planning Committee of the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT)
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Smriti Irani: Smriti Irani got married to Zubin Irani in 2001. Smriti and Zubin have a daughter and son named Zoish Irani and Zohr Irani respectively. She also has a step-daughter named Shanelle from her husband's previous marriage, who lives with Smriti Irani, her husband and two kids. It is believed that they share a very warm relationship. Smriti Irani is a Rajya Sabha Member of the Parliament and also the Textiles Minister of India. She is famously known as a former model and TV actress as well. Her most iconic role remains that of Tulsi from the television soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
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Sonia Gandhi: The Italian-born politician married the late Rajiv Gandhi in 1968. She is the mother of two high profile children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. While Rahul Gandhi is the President of the Indian National Congress and a member of the 16th Lok Sabha from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, his sister Priyanka Gandhi is married to businessman Robert Vadra and has two children. Sonia Gandhi served as President of the Indian National Congress for nineteen years. Sonia Gandhi currently leads the Parliamentary Committee of the party. She also serves as Trustee of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.
File Pic: Sonia Gandhi with son Rahul
Amruta Fadnavis: She married Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the year 2005. The couple have one daughter Divija Fadnavis. The multi-talented Amruta is a singer, banker as well as a social activist. Their daughter who is a student, the high profile parents keep her as far away from the limelight as possible.
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Priyanka Gandhi: Daughter of Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi married Robert Vadra in 1997. The couple has two children, a son Raihan and a daughter Miraya. Priyanka's daughter Miraya studies at Welham Girls School, Dehradun, while son Raihan is a student of the Doon School. Industry insiders opine that the two Gandhi scions may be poised to enter politics as well. Priyanka Gandhi serves as Trustee of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation
File Pic: Priyanka Gandhi with her husband and children
Moon Moon Sen: Moon Moon Sen is a former Bollywood actress and politician. She got married to Bharat Dev Varma in 1978. The couple has two daughters, Raima Sen and Riya Sen - both actresses in Bollywood. She was part of the Trinamool Congress in March 2014. During the Lok Sabha Polls Bankura constituency in the same year, Moon Moon Sen won after defeating Basudeb Acharia. The yesteryears actress, known for her work in Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi and Kannada films. She has appeared in 60 films and 40 television series.
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Maneka Gandhi: She was married to Sanjay Gandhi in 1974 until his death in 1980. Maneka and Sanjay Gandhi's son Varun Sanjay Gandhi is an Indian politician and is a member of Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament of India, representing the Sultanpur constituency. He is also a BJP leader. Maneka Gandhi is Indian Union Cabinet Minister for Women & Child Development. Besides being a politician, Maneka is an author, environmentalist and animal rights activist.
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Poonam Mahajan: Poonam Mahajan is married to Anand Rao Vejandala, an industrialist from Hyderabad. She is the mother of two children, son Aadya Rao Vajandla and daughter Avika Rao Vejandla. In 2006, she joined the BJP after her father Pramod Mahajan's death. She is a Member of Parliament from Mumbai North Central and a politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
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Pankaja Munde: Pankaja Munde married Amit Palwe and the couple has a son named Aryaman. Pankaja Munde is the current Minister of Rural Development, Women and Child Welfare and also Maharashtra State Guardian Minister for Latur district and Beed district in the state. In 2012, she served as State President of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, BJP's youth wing. In 2009, she was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra.
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Kiran Bedi: She was married to the late Brij Bedi in 1972. She has a daughter whom they initially named Sukriti, which was later changed to Saina. Kiran Bedi is the first woman to join the Indian Police Service (IPS). She remained in service for a period of 35 years before voluntarily retiring in 2007 as Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development.
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Indra Nooyi: She is married to Raj K. Nooyi. She has two daughters and resides in Greenwich, Connecticut. One of her daughters is currently attending the School of Management at Yale, Nooyi's alma mater. Inidra Nooyi is an Indian American business executive and the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo, the second largest food and beverage business in the world by net revenue. Forbes ranked her at the 3rd spot among 'World's Powerful Moms' list.
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