Twinkle Khanna has opened up about the recurring challenges she faces as a public figure, particularly regarding her identity as a “star wife” and the scrutiny surrounding her political differences with husband Akshay Kumar.
In her latest column for The Times of India, Twinkle expressed her frustration with being repeatedly asked what it’s like to be married to a Bollywood superstar. Sharing her candid thoughts, she wrote:
“Sitting for an interview, I am asked, ‘You are a star wife; tell us what it’s like?’ While my first instinct is to bite the reporter’s index finger, I reply, ‘I am not sure that an entity like ‘star wife’ exists, unless, in the way that Manglik women marry trees, because of some Rahu Ketu ka dosh, you end up marrying Sirius or worse, Halley’s Comet.’”
The actor-turned-author noted how she has developed a resilient approach to these persistent questions, likening her response to an oyster’s ability to craft pearls out of irritants. “After 20 years of answering this annoying question, I have an oyster-like attitude to irritants and the ability to craft black pearls of wisdom in response.”
Twinkle further addressed how she is often blamed for her husband Akshay Kumar’s political leanings, sharing her frustration with the unrealistic expectations placed on her. “It’s almost like people believe he isn’t my husband but a toddler who will listen to me when I say, ‘Beta ji, please walk on the left side of the road, and I will give you a Frooti.’”
Twinkle and Akshay, who tied the knot on 17 January, 2001, are parents to son Aarav and daughter Nitara. The couple has often been in the public eye for their contrasting political views, with Twinkle being known for her sharp wit and progressive opinions, while Akshay’s political affiliations have sparked debate.
Twinkle’s reflections come as she continues to carve her identity outside of Bollywood. In 2022, she pursued a Master’s degree in Fiction Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London, which she recently completed.
Known for her humorous and insightful writing, Twinkle Khanna has once again reminded readers of the nuanced challenges of being both a public figure and an individual with her own identity and beliefs.