2024 has been a dream year for TV and film actress Manasi Parekh. She toplined Jhamkudi (2024), a Gujarati blockbuster, and also took home the National Award for Best Actress for the Gujarati film Kutch Express. Interestingly, it’s her husband, singer Parthiv Gohil (of Devdas fame), who has invested his faith in her by producing Kutch Express. Theirs is a romance with a difference—a love story between two largely shy people (they have come a long way since then) that blossomed into a happy marriage and prosperous careers.
Q. When and how did you first meet your husband, Parthiv?
A. I met Parthiv on the sets of the reality show Sa Re Ga Ma (Gujarati). He was the host, and I was a participant.
Q. What was your initial reaction when you met him?
A. He was very warm and sweet to me. I was nervous as I was performing, but he came up to me, said “hi,” and wished me luck.
Q. What are the qualities that attracted you to him?
A. His talent in music, his warm and enterprising nature, and his work ethic. I realised he was very different from the other people around me. He had spark.
Q. Who played Cupid?
A. My mom and my dadi. They both loved him to bits and said that he would be perfect for me.
Q. What was the icebreaker?
A. Music. Because of our shared passion for music, we grew very close.
Q. Who took the initiative to fix a date?
A. He did.
Q. Where did you guys go for the first date?
A. I remember we went to Pizza Hut, Bandra, for our first date. I was in my second year at Xavier’s College.
Q. Did he bring anything on your first date, like flowers or chocolates for you?
A. No. Honestly, we were both shy.
Q. Who said I love you first?
A. I did! I sent him a message. But by a strange coincidence, his phone wasn’t working. So, to this day, he hasn’t received the “I love you” message (laughs).
Q. For how many years did you date before getting married?
A. For two years.
Q. Did you all fight during your courtship days, and if yes, what were the fights about?
A. Yes! We would fight, but our arguments were/are mainly work-related. Both of us love our work and have very strong opinions about it.
Manasi Parekh and Parthiv |
Q. Who apologizes first after a fight?
A. I do.
Q. Who proposed marriage?
A. Parthiv did. I was in my last year of college. I distinctly remember we had met up in South Mumbai, and that’s when he proposed marriage to me.
Q. Did Parthiv and you face any opposition when you decided to get married?
A. My parents were absolutely fine with Parthiv. They loved him. But other members of my family were wondering how we would connect, since I am a typical Mumbai girl and he is from Gujarat.
Q. Who is more possessive between the two?
A. Parthiv is very possessive about me.
Q. Who is the cleanliness freak?
A. He is. I am okay with a little mess.
Q. Who is the short-tempered one?
A. It depends. Sometimes he is, sometimes I am.
Q. Who is the more romantic one between the two?
A. He is, for sure. He will light candles and make a super mood setting for our date nights.
Q. How has your relationship changed from the time you guys were boyfriend and girlfriend to now being husband and wife?
A. We have literally built our lives together and seen each other grow over the years. Right from the beginning as a couple to now being parents, to working together on our production house. We have also embarked on our spiritual journey together; we are partners in every which way. It’s a bond that goes above and beyond.
Q. What common interests do you share?
A. We love traveling, yoga, working, and creating new film projects, ideating, and generally enjoying life to the fullest!
Love for you is… the ability to accept a person fully, for what he/she is.
