I love being Mukesh’s wife: Nita Ambani

It’s almost four when we approach Sea Wind, the Ambani family’s residence, amidst heavy security, which includes a sniffer dog. Understandable post the Mumbai terror attacks last November, and given the family’s status.

Nita Ambani strolls in 10 minutes later. Dressed in jeans and an emerald green top, the educationist/philanthropist is now even slimmer than when we met her last. Pleasantries over, we are informed she has to rush off for a meeting in an hour. So, we get right down to it....

What’s the best thing about being Mrs Nita Ambani? Without a pause, she says, “I love being Mukesh’s wife!” The warmth with which she talks about one of India’s most powerful men is unmistakable. “He is my soul mate; I love being the mother of his kids, and playing every role that I have to being his wife.”

In December, she and Mukesh complete 25 years of being together. Ask her, in this age of affairs and divorces, how the two have managed to keep it together and she reveals, “First and foremost, we are great friends. Both of us have very different operating styles, but we value each other’s opinions. We are willing to listen to each other, which I think is very important in a relationship.”

Mukesh, she says, enjoys watching her perform bharatnatyam. “He loved my performance at my mum-in-law’s (Kokilaben Ambani) birthday recently. I like to do things that he likes. He likes Indian art and culture, and I make it a point to take interest in those things,” she adds.

And while we assume there will be big celebrations, given it is their silver anniversary, Nita says, “We’ll probably go off to the jungles and relax there.”

Even their three kids — Akash, Eisha and Anant — love wildlife, and in fact they have more than 100 stray dogs at their Jamnagar property and a few pets (including two snakes!) at this home in Cuffe Parade. 

“All our vacations are  spent in the jungles, roughing it out. We have the best time of our lives there,” she says.

Sunday is family time at the Ambani home, which includes an elaborate Gujarati meal, a walk at the US club in the evening with dogs in tow and, as Nita puts it, “lots and lots of homework with the kids.”

A trip to Mysore Café at Matunga is also often on the cards. “It’s a treat for Mukesh and the kids to go there. You know, Mukesh is one of their oldest customers…he used to go there since his chemical engineering days in the ‘80s. They have a picture of him on their menu, and the children get most thrilled seeing that!” she smiles.

And while lots could be written about her accomplishments, Nita says she would like to be remembered as “a good mom first, and then a good human being who tried to make a difference.”