Rati Agnihotri Finally Breaks Her Silence On Domestic Violence, And Her Decision To End Her 30-Year Marriage
When actress Rati Agnihotri decided to complain to the cops about the alleged violence perpetrated by her husband, she didn't expect the personal matter would leak out into the public domain. Talking about her decision to open up, she says, "I am surprised and hurt that my motives for speaking out to the law enforcement and legal machinery about my domestic problems are being questioned. Just because I chose to not speak about it, some sections of the media doubt the veracity of my claims. I've remained silent, but the fact is that that what is being said about my life is not true," she says as she resolutely announces her decision to end her marriage. "Yes, it's time for me to move one. I've taken a very long time to take the right decision. People are asking why I remained in the marriage for so long.Well firstly it's my life. I don't owe any explanations to anyone except my son Tanuj for whose sake I chose to stay on. I've taken 30 years to opt out of my marriage.I've been patient and I've borne a lot."
Rati wanted her son to understand why she needed to break away from the marriage. "That was most painful. Tanuj is the only reason I stuck on(in the marriage). He is 28 now and man enough to face the truth in his mother's life. He knew the truth ten years ago. He knows the truth now. He knows what his mother has endured. Finally he has told me. 'Mom, don't live your life for me. Live for yourself. Do what you think is right for yourself.'
Why didn't Rati discuss her marital problems with close family and friends? "I really had no one to talk to. I stuck on to the marriage for my son's sake. This is the honest truth. If the world would like to judge me otherwise, so be it. It saddens me to see the way my life is being projected in the media. Does the media know how hard it is on me to make the decision that I did after keeping quiet for 30 years? Just because I kept quiet all these years about what I was going through and finally decided to do something about it doesn't mean my motives are questionable." Pondering over her own predicament Rati asks, "Do I sound depressed to you? Do I sound desperate? One widely-read newspaper portrays me this way and I am painted poorly in numerous papers across the country. If you don't have access to me it doesn't mean my life is open to distortion."
Regarding her decision to break away from the violent marriage Rati says, "After the latest violence I couldn't stay in the same house any more. I had nowhere to go, so I drove down to my home in Lonavla. My son was shooting in Pune and he came to meet me and advised me to do what I thought was right. This (ending the marriage) was my son's decision for me. I am taking his advice. He said, 'No matter what you'll always be my mother.' Every time something of this sort happened within the four walls of my home, he's the only person I reached out to. In the past I've called him for help and he has immediately come to my rescue. I am still hurting because of the last beating . I don't have the strength to go and see my ailing mother. I've never failed as a mother. No matter what happens, Tanuj will continue to be the centre of my universe."
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