Why Lagaan actor Suhasini Mulay waited till 60 to marry scientist Atul Gurtu

Actor Suhasini Mulay opened up about finding love at 60 after meeting scientist Atul Gurtu on Facebook. She also revealed why she never married earlier and how they got married within weeks of meeting in person.

In Short

• Suhasini Mulay married at 60 after meeting her husband on Facebook
• She said she waited for a partner who believed in equality
• The couple married within weeks of meeting in person

Actor Suhasini Mulay, known for Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar, found love at 60 and married scientist Atul Gurtu after meeting him on Facebook. In a recent interview, Suhasini said she did not marry earlier because she never found a man who truly understood equality. She was also looking for someone who was not very religious or judgmental about people with different lifestyles.

Speaking on Suhana Safar, Suhasini said, "I married for the first time at the age of 60. Until then, I hadn't found the right match. My husband is a very well-known scientist. When he talks about science, I don't understand a thing, but he is a wonderful human being."

In another conversation on actor Sulekha Talwalkar's YouTube channel, she shared how the two met, how carefully she approached the relationship, and how quickly they married once they had made up their minds. Suhasini and Atul have now been married for 15 years.

A Facebook profile that stood out

Suhasini said she joined Facebook after a co-star urged her to do so. She said her original intention was to look for work opportunities. That plan changed when she noticed Atul's profile. Recalling the moment, she said, "I saw Atul's profile and thought, 'Physicists are on Facebook too?' He was working on the Large Hadron Collider. Since I have always been interested in science, I sent him a message asking, 'What is LHC?'"

The two then began exchanging emails. At one stage, Atul said he was looking for a life partner. Suhasini said he never made a direct proposal, but hinted at it. "He never directly proposed anything, but he hinted at it. When I realised he was looking for someone, I laughed to myself. I thought, 'When I couldn't find the right person in 60 years, how am I suddenly going to find him now?'" she said.

Proceeding with caution

Suhasini said she was wary because fake profiles are common on social media. When Atul asked for her phone number, she turned to a friend for advice.

Recalling that exchange, she said, "My friend told me that at this age, the options only become fewer. Don't shut the door before you've even opened it. If you don't like him, you can always move on. There's no harm in trying. When Atul asked for my number, I told him, 'Good girls don't give their phone numbers to strangers.' On the internet, it's not about who you meet; it's about what you meet. People create fake profiles all the time."

She said she checked his Facebook details against the organisation where he worked, and everything matched. Her friend also asked her what was stopping her now, after having lived alone for so long. Suhasini added that they were meant to meet earlier, but it did not happen until Diwali. Even then, she said, she arrived late on purpose because she wanted to be sure he looked like the person in his photographs before she met him. Once they finally met, the relationship moved quickly.

"We met at the end of November and spoke extensively. By January 16, we were married. Once we had made the decision, there was no point waiting," she said.

Her mother's surprise

Suhasini said her mother could not believe the news when she told her she had found someone. According to the actor, her mother called back once more just to confirm what she had heard, and later told her, "You've found an intelligent man."

What impressed her mother even more was Atul's answer when he was asked why he wanted to marry at 60. Recalling his words, she said, "Suhasini has lived alone all her life and can continue to do so. I can continue to live alone as well. But I want to give happiness a chance. If it doesn't work out, we will simply admit we made a mistake."

Laughter, judgement and a long career

Suhasini also recalled a lighter moment from the day they registered their marriage. "When we went to register our marriage, the official assumed I had come to collect an old marriage certificate," she said. The official then asked, "You and uncle?" and the remark left the couple laughing.

She said the judgement she faced for marrying at 60 was no different from the judgement she had faced earlier for not marrying when she was younger.

Speaking about the pressures of being in the public eye, she said, "When you're a celebrity, people think they have the right to judge every decision you make. When I was 26, my mother asked if I wanted to get married. I said no. She respected my decision but warned me that I was choosing a difficult path."

Suhasini Mulay is a five-time National Award-winning actor. She made her debut in Mrinal Sen's Bhuvan Shome in 1969 at the age of 18, and later worked as an assistant director to Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen. She has produced over 60 documentaries. The actor has also won the National Award for Best Supporting Actress for Gulzar's 1999 film Hu Tu Tu.

In Hindi cinema, she is remembered for performances in Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa Akbar, Dil Chahta Hai and Lagaan.

- Ends