I will continue to pursue my aspirations: Amruta Fadnavis

She is the wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, but that has not deterred banker Amruta Fadnavis from pursuing her aspirations and working on social causes. 

"I did change after my husband became Chief Minister. The change was for positive. I was social but not to this extent. I accepted the change passionately," Amruta, who has vigorously started pursuing social causes like village development, told PTI in an interview.

"It would have been injustice to me if I had to change the way of living just because my husband is Chief Minister. I would continue to pursue my aspirations," she said. 

Amruta, 38, has adopted two villages and is also an adviser to different NGOs working for the causes that she believes in. 

She said she aims to make the two villages as 'model villages' and see that the new generation of rural women change, in terms of their attitude and approach due to digitalisation, TV and social media. 

Asked about the 'confidence walk' (fashion show) of acid attack survivors organised by her last week, she said these women have a huge desire to live a normal life. 

She said that she has been seeking support from the corporates to help them lead a normal life. 

"I thought a comprehensive programme was a good idea. We contacted corporates which understood the need for these people to get a normal life. The employable acid attack survivors will be getting jobs where they can work for few hours and get paid," she said. 

The issue of their treatment free of cost or at a lesser cost is also being worked out in private hospitals, she said. 

Acid attack survivors need confidence to face the world, Amruta said adding that the ramp walk helped them to feel empowered and in boosting their confidence. 

About her own life, she said, "Everyone is brought up differently. In my case, my parents (both doctors) laid a lot of emphasis on education and individuality. This continued after marriage as well." 

Amruta felt that the generation gap between her and her predecessors (wives of former chief ministers) and her urban background may be the reasons why she is perceived as a 'modern and independent working woman' among people.She agrees that a strong family support is necessary for a woman to pursue her aspirations. 

"First of all your need to have a desire, then you can manage time and you cannot do that without strong family support. Before marriage, you need to have parents who are interested in making you grow and after marriage you need to have a supportive husband," she said. 

Besides being a banker, Amruta is also pursuing a career as a playback singer and says she is choosy when it comes to take up singing projects. 

"I have to see there are no double meaning lyrics. I look for good tunes and I am careful with the people involved in the project," she said. 

She says she never approached anyone for singing projects. 

"People knew I sing and I was approached for playback singing based on what they have heard. Earlier, I sang for 'Beti Bachao' campaign and then a Marathi song for a film on Gopinath Mundeji. I also got to sing in Hindi movie 'Jai Gangajal'," she said. 

Asked if she is approached for playback singing given her position as the CM's wife, she said, "I have a certain tone and when I listen to a song (she is approached for) and if it suits my tone, (that's how) I come to know that I have been approached for singing and not because of the position." 

Amruta said she is awaiting the release of films for which she has done playback singing and also a music video featuring her with megastar Amitabh Bachchan. 

When asked about her eight-year-old daughter Divija, Amruta said she wants her to grow up into a confident and empathetic girl.