Page 44 - UpperCrust e-Magazine Third Quarter 2024

COVER STORY | AMRITA RAICHAND

Dahi Baingan for you Kurkure Bhindi with aloo

quite click. Says Amrita, “I had a checklist and organising many events in India related
Laddoos served royally
in my mind regarding how my in-laws had to football, cricket, cycling. But he has given
to be. And though they were so good, so it all up now, (saying he has had enough of
cultured, I found myself hesitating. I got cold living out of a suitcase), to concentrate on
feet, I think.” his family business, which is related to the
Understandably Rahuls’s ego was hurt chemical industry.
more than a bit. Here he was, a khandani boy, When asked what describes him best, he
with royalty links, (his mum is associated humorously says, “Amrita’s husband!” And
with the Baroda royalty) Mayo College and then goes on to let me know, in two words
Oxford Brookes, educated MBA guy, so cool, what drove him nuts about her and why he
so well-spoken, being rejected… Already chose to marry her. “Her smile.” Rahul is of
attracted to Amrita, he decided to woo, not the opinion that anyone who has her kind of
the future bride, but the future ma-in-law! infectious smile has to have a super heart and
He called her and invited himself over for a great nature. “Amrita is all that and more.
a ‘cuppa tea’. He met her not once but four But I must tell you a funny anecdote. You
times! know when I was proposing to her, I told
By now Amrita’s ma was quite fond her, ‘I may not be able to buy you the biggest
and Time Bomb 9/11 and movies such as of Rahul and told Amrita in no uncertain diamonds in the world or the most expensive
Ready with Salman Khan, Baat Ban Gayi with terms that she must decide soon, meaning cars or the largest of mansions, or take you on
Gulshan Grover and Ali Fazal and Subhash she should say yes! So, once again Amrita ridiculous holidays or…’ she interrupted me
Ghai’s Baaghi. found herself in Rahul’s company, this time and asked, ‘ … Really, so what can I expect?’
In between all this, given Amrita’s love at Bombay Gym where she met his friends and I smiled and continued… ‘But I do
for cooking, she also managed to convert the from Mayo and had an immensely good time. promise you a lifetime of laughter!’” Aww...
living room of her mother’s apartment into She found she liked Rahul and his friends. that’s so sweet I said to him and asked if
a studio, where she would cook and shoot Later, the same day, they landed up at the US Amrita was floored by that. He laughs, “Yes!
videos to her heart’s desire. This was in 2019. Club, where, guess what, he proposed to her! But I did manage to throw in memorable
However, the phase I found most The marriage was a whirlwind affair. holidays and she does have my mum’s lovely
fascinating was when the time for marriage They were wed, within months, bang in the old jewellery!” And she laughs a lot!
came along. “Believe it or not, it was an middle of the wettest of monsoons. Been 23 Rahul proved to be a good husband
‘arranged’ marriage,” she confesses. It was years since but it has never rained in their lives too. Broadminded and confident as he was,
Veena Malhotra, a Bombay society hostess again! Touch wood. Rahul was fine with Amrita continuing with
who saw Amrita at a party and got the two Rahul Raichand is a seriously happy her modelling career, which she did many
respected mums together. Subsequently man. A sports enthusiast, who has played years after. But she voluntarily gave it up
Amrita and Rahul met, in the winter of 2002, professional football, been a rugby champ, once her son Agastya was born in 2007.
and went out to lunch at Gaylord, but it didn’t Rahul has been responsible in conceptualising However, her other passion, cooking, which

42 | UPPERCRUST | JUL-SEP 2024