`I have accomplished what I set out to do'
Y. SUNITA CHOWDHARY
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Ramanaidu shares his thoughts on his family, his movies and his future work in this free-wheeling chat.
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A TRUE FAMILY MAN Star producer Ramanaidu has seen it all, with his wife of 48 years, Rajeshwari who has always stood by him.
Ramanaidu is sitting in his studio watching an old Telugu film from Suresh Productions and simultaneously feeding his two-year-old grandson icecream. With his grey goatee he looks every inch the elderly gentleman. "I've always felt that age is nothing but a number. I never dreaded turning 70. I have done a lot of things in my career and I accomplished the goals that I set for myself." he says. "I had taken some time off after my stint as an M.P. I was doing charity work, once that was over, I'm like, "Now, what am I going to do?' I felt restless, so now I am back, just released Nireekshana and planning to direct another."
He and his wife, Rajeshwari, have been married 48 years. He says with pride, "Sipping steaming coffee and catching the early crimson dawn together can be a very settling factor. We have grown gracefully to become grandparents. Both of us were from Karamchedu and she is related to the family. She always stood by me despite me changing careers and places constantly. After my wedding, I wanted to start my own business and go on my way and I did that after convincing my father, but my sons have always been together and believe in the concept of `one family and one business'. My children have grown up to be simple people under Rajeshwari's upbringing. I haven't seen her attend a film shooting in the past four decades of my film career. I have kept my film work away from my personal life always. Even if my brothers or sisters come home, we as a family make an effort to be good hosts but never discuss films or gossip about film personalities."
Ramanaidu says he lost his mother when he was three years old and has very hazy memories of her. He adds, "My father bought me up so well that I hardly miss her. Once all of us were having dinner and I happened to ask my children whom they love most. My daughter Lakshmi immediately spoke about her preference for me while Venkatesh was silent. He has always been a reserved child and even today he maintains that little distance from me. When I insisted, Suresh sensitively explained that they were aware that I had lost my mother when I was young whereas they knew what a mother's love was all about. He didn't want to hurt me in any manner. It is always true that daughters are close to their father and sons are their mother's favourite. I have tried balancing my work and family but my wife has spent all her time with them."
Ramanaidu has seen many ups and downs in his career but the one thing he always believed in is never to wreak vengeance on anyone and to always be fair in business. Effort always pays off. With a very successful professional life and a wonderful family what more can a man ask for?
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