How I Met My Life Partner: Chhavi Mittal says, 'My husband Mohit Hussein and I have redefined couple relationships in every way possible.'

Married for 16 years to Mohit Hussein and a mother of two, Areeza and Arham, Chhavi Mittal is quite popular on social media. The actress spills the beans about her love story to The Free Press Journal. Excerpts:

When and how did you first meet your better half?

I met him for the lead part in a telefilm he was directing. I was told that he is a hotshot director and will teach me the fine nuances of acting in my first project itself. It was in 2004, a few weeks after I had shifted base to Mumbai from Delhi.

Who played Cupid?

I would say the coordinator who introduced me to Mohit. His name is Umesh, and we still speak sometimes regarding work.

What was your initial reaction when you saw him? Did the bells begin tolling immediately, or did that happen later?

Oh no! There were no bells, etc. I did notice his magnetic aura, though. We had been waiting outside a coffee shop for a while for a table, but the minute he walked in, a table magically got free! He invited us to join him. He also made me very nervous because he kept looking at my pictures and didn’t seem to like any.

What did you like about Mohit when you met him for the first time?

The first thing that struck me was his height. But mostly, I was impressed with the clarity that he had about his film and the characters.

Did you guys exchange numbers?

Yes, since we were working together.

What was the ice-breaker?

It was on the first schedule in Goa. He was impressed with me when he saw my raw talent as an actress who had never faced the camera. He began to woo me on the first day itself, and I realised he was quite the charmer.

After you came home, did you keep thinking about him and thought about meeting up?

First meeting? Of course not!

Who took the initiative to fix a date?

He did. Multiple times!

Where did you go for the first date?

We were in Goa with the crew, and since he could not take me out alone, considering it bad for the reputation, he invited the whole crew out to Titos so he could be with me.

Did you guys go Dutch?

He actually borrowed money from me! We were both very young and were trying to make a living in our respective fields, and none of us cared about who paid. What mattered was that while we work hard towards our dreams, we do it together.

Did he bring anything for you on your first date like flowers or chocolates?

If you have followed any part of our journey of 17 years, you’d know that we are anything but cliche. We have redefined couple relationships in every way possible and continue to break the stereotype even today. To answer your question, no, he did not. Had he brought flowers, I would have probably run miles away.

Who said I love you first?

I don’t remember. Does it matter?

How many times in a day would you speak with him?

We moved in together pretty early in the relationship.

Who is more possessive between the two?

Both of us.

Who is the funnier one?

Both of us are funny, but my sense of humour is very different from his.

Who is the cleanliness freak?

Both he and I like cleanliness.

Who is more short-tempered between the two?

That’ll be me. There are many incidents, but broadly, I sometimes react aggressively to incompetence, broken commitments, work not going my way etc., even today.

Would you both fight during your courtship?

Of course, we fought. Not as much as I have seen other couples, though. I think that is because Mohit has always been the bigger person during a difference of opinion. If it wasn’t important, he would agree. If it was, he would choose a mature approach to discussion.

Who proposed marriage?

He did.

Did you face any opposition when you were ready to marry?

We played it smart and had a plan in place before breaking it to the family. So no. His family thought I was too young, but when they found out my age and competence, they were satisfied. My family loved him from the word go because they could see how much he loved me.

How has your relationship changed from the time you were girlfriend-boyfriend to husband and wife?

We’ve been married for 16 years and have been together for 17. We’ve grown together, matured together, and learnt things together. We work together, we have kids together, and we’ve seen a lot of ups and downs together. That’s a lot to say about any relationship.

Recently you had a health scare. How did Mohit help you cope with it?

He is my husband and my only support system. He stuck with me through it all and continues to do so.

Published on: Sunday, July 03, 2022, 07:00 AM IST