What does it really take to build a life and a career together? On the Bombay Times Lounge, the lovable couple, Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh, strip it down to the basics: trust, humour, and knowing when to step back. As they gear up for their next, Raja Shivaji, the two talk about partnership, individuality, and everything in between. Watch the full episode, which is now live, on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.
Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh
The two of you have been together for over two decades now — you met on the sets of Tujhe Meri Kasam — and what started as a film became a lifelong partnership. Did any of you have the faintest sense that this would turn into something so enduring?Riteish: When we first met, we saw each other as friends. And that friendship bloomed into a love story. The good thing about our relationship is that we always think of growing together, with each other. It’s been an incredible journey so far. Genelia: From the beginning, even before we got married, we didn’t give our relationship any tags. We never sat down and discussed… We will do this now, or after marriage, or this is where we are headed. We just enjoyed every day. For the longest time, Riteish would tease me with other people, and I would tease him with others. Both of you have had very distinct career journeys — how do you make sure your individual identities don’t get overshadowed as a couple?Genelia: I give Riteish a lot of credit for that because he’s someone who respects you as an individual. I might have a thousand opinions, he doesn’t have to accept them, but he will listen to them without imposing his views. We work together as co-actors and producers, but we have clearly different profiles — he looks into the creative aspects, and I am responsible for the logistics.Riteish: When you are working with your partner, the most important thing is your relationship with your partner. You have to figure out what your partner is good at, what you are good at, because you cannot be a control freak. Knowing each other as friends or husband-wife is a different thing, but when it’s about working together, it’s a different ballgame. So, we have found a balance and that’s really important for all couples who want to work together.
Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh
Riteish, you were widely loved for your comic roles for years. Then Ek Villain (2014) made audiences see you in a completely new light. Around the same time, you made your Marathi debut with Lai Bhaari and went on to immerse yourself in Marathi cinema — as an actor, producer and director. What triggered this shift?Riteish: Ten years into my career, my father (Vilasrao Deshmukh) asked me, “You’re doing so much in Hindi films, what about Marathi films?” Until then, I hadn’t thought about it. That was the trigger. We started our journey with our banner Mumbai Film Company about 13 years ago, and we have produced 7 films, all Marathi films and we take immense pride in that.Riteish, in earlier interviews, you’ve spoken about how at one point, Hindi cinema was growing while Marathi cinema was shrinking. Did that make you feel a sense of responsibility to contribute, givenyour strong connect with your roots?Riteish: There is a certain beauty in our regional cinema. I truly believe that while we are moving really fast towards the West, somewhere, we need to hold on to our roots, culture and language. We need to find our folklore and go back to the stories of our grandparents, to understand our value system which is embedded in our culture. And that culture is translated to us through language. The best way to help any language is through arts, be it poetry, cinema, theatre or literature.
Riteish with Salman Khan in a still from the song Ved Lavlay in Ved
Genelia, you have worked in multiple languages and across industries, so did you bring that experience while backing Marathi films through your own banner?Genelia: Yes, I did films in other languages, long before it (pan-India movies) was a thing. And what I took away from it was that you get to tell so many more stories and understand so much about different regions and cultures. It’s beautiful for an actor because eventually, acting is about experiences. If you’re getting to do different kinds of roles in different languages of your country, then why not do it?Riteish, the roles you take on in Hindi films versus Marathi cinema feel quite distinct —are those choices deliberate?Riteish: In Hindi films, I get to choose from the films that have been offered to me. And in Marathi films, from the inception stage, I get to choose what kind of films I want to make. So, yes, the choices I make as an actor in Hindi films are far different from the choices I make as a producer or an actor in the films that we produce in the Marathi film industry.Genelia, you stepped away at the peak of your career and returned to the screen after nearly a decade with Ved, directed by Riteish. I believe he played a big role in encouraging you to make a comeback?Genelia: Yes! He just kept saying that this is something you love, right? You’ve got to do it. He didn’t even listen to me. He told me, “You have to do this.”Riteish: I believed that she was perfect for the role in Ved. More than anything else, I told her… I think what you love the most is being in front of the camera. Parenthood, motherhood, it has a certain time and you are doing those roles. You are Genelia — the wife, the mother, the daughter. Now you need to go out there to meet the Genelia that you were — that is very important. The Genelia that you are is the person on the set, in front of the camera and you need to meet her.
The couple with their sons Riaan and Rahyl
People on social media lap up the reels you both create together. They are a vibe; they are hilarious and relatable. Do your kids (Riaan and Rahyl) get Riteish’s sense of humour?Genelia: Yeah, totally! My younger son (Rahyl) is Riteish Deshmukh. We always say that no one can beat Riteish at his sense of humour and wit, but if one person can, it’s chhotu. I will share a funny story here – Riteish was in charge of the kids at home one day. Our younger one did something naughty. So, Riteish told him, “Go, stand in the corner and put your hands down.” He’s looked at Riteish defiantly for five seconds, and quickly put his hands up.Riteish: That’s Genelia genes!
Riteish and Genelia posing with the fans on the Bombay Times Lounge
You’ve had great support from talent across both Hindi and Marathi cinema, with many even coming on board for brief appearances for your projects. Riteish, you clearly have a lot of goodwill in the industry — do you believe that eventually pays off?Riteish: I think our industry has a lot of goodness that is not often spoken about. Everyone will have different experiences, but so many people have been good to me that I feel I should be good and pay it forward — that’s a philosophy I’ve always lived by. It doesn’t take much to smile and greet people. When I’m on a set, I make it a point to greet every department — it really doesn’t take much. It’s important to show gratitude to everyone, because while their contribution may seem small in the bigger picture, they are out there giving their 100%.Watch the complete interview with Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.Location partner: Luuma House
