I trust no man, who would want to marry me?
by: Subhash K. Jha
- mumbaimirror.com
Kiranjit Ahluwalia, the abused wife who has inspired the Ash-starrer Provoked, talks about moving on in life...
Her English is still as shaky as it was 24 years ago, when Kiranjit Ahluwalia became a cause-celebre in Britain after she set her abusive husband on fire. Her spirit, however, remains unshaken. In Cannes for the premiere of Provoked, the film that recreates the horrific events that led to her behaviour, Karanjit strikes you as being the regular woman-next-door.
“After what happened to me, my life can never be regular,” she says. “Of course what's happening to me is unbelievably heartening. There has been support for my plight, from women's groups in Britain and all over the world, there has been a book on my case and now a film has been made on it. But the wounds will never heal. What pleases me is that my two sons are doing well. They're in university now. It makes me forget a lot of the pain that I've suffered.”
How does it feel to be suddenly at the centre of all this media attention? "When I co-wrote the book, Circle Of Light, with Rahila Gupta, I told a story that had to be told… At that time I thought I had said whatever I had to. I never expected anyone to make a movie on my life. Provoked came as a pleasant surprise. I wasn't prepared for it. When I heard Aishwarya Rai is going to play my character I was pleased. I have seen her films, like Devdas."
Kiranjit admits that she wasn't too closely involved with the making of Provoked. "However, the idea of making a film on domestic violence in general and about what happened to me in particular, seemed good," she says. "I'm glad that the film has been made. Hopefully my story will help women like me, who are trapped in similar situations, to come out and let the world know about their plight. Women who have suffered like me need not feel it's the end of the world for them. I want them to know that there's hope."
She reflects on her long journey from innocence to alleged crime to martyrdom and, now, stardom. "It's all destiny," she philosophises.
When asked if she would ever consider remarriage, Kiranjit displays unexpected spunk and humour. "After what I've done, do you think any man would want to marry me?" she asks. "No man can trust me and I can trust no man. It isn't as if I've been put off men for life, or that I think they're all bad. My brother, my brother-in-law, are decent men and devoted husbands. I don't know why this had to happen to me."
She says that her life has taken a turn for the better now. "Maybe they will make Provoked 2 about what's happening to me now," she laughs.
Somehow, her laughter makes you forget this is a woman who has suffered the most nightmarish and inhuman trauma imaginable...
Related Links:
05/18/06 Indian biggies target Cannes mart - indiaenews.com
05/18/06 Cannes is a high for Ash - timesofindia.com
05/18/06 Ash to promote movie at Cannes - ibnlive.com
05/15/06 Queen of Bollywood turns into battered wife
05/15/06 For your eyes only - mumbaimirror.com
05/14/06 Provoked among Indian films to be featured at Cannes
04/26/06 'We are waiting to unveil Provoked at Cannes' - mid-day.com
Provoked: News Updates
Aishwarya at Cannes 2006: Photos
Cannes 2002-5: Photos
