Tina Ambani’s Sublime Life Story: Surreal Just Out of a Flick
There’s something so empowering about certain women of substance. These are the ones who have left their marks in the sands of time and risen themselves from nothing, even during those yesteryears in India when the country was still making its peace with women surpassing men in every sphere. It was not about overpowering someone, but it was purely about breathing life into ones dreams so that they become real. And Tina Ambani didn’t fall an exception to this case.
Born as Nivrutti Munim in 1955 in Mumbai, she was the youngest of the nine sisters and one brother in a Gujarati family residing in Bhuleshwar. She drew her inspiration from her elder sister Bhawna, a model and adopted the Anglicised name Tina and entered the beauty pageant circuit. Having the right mix of attributes needed to make it to the pageant, she was crowned Femina Teen Princess India 1975 and subsequently represented India at the International Teen Contest in Aruba 1978.
And then it happened. Turns out, she appeared in a toothpaste commercial and caught the attention of star Dev Anand who cast her in the leading role in Des Pardes in 1978 which became a huge grosser. He cast her in 2 more flicks in leading roles which also went on to become huge hits and by that time she turned out to be a household name. She later left Dev Anand’s camp and was cast opposite Sanjay Dutt’s debut film Rocky when Sunil Dutt launched him in 1981. And then she was paired with superstar Rajesh Khanna in 11 films out of which 8 were released and turned out to be blockbusters including Bewafai and Souten. Much like in films, the pair seemed to have an affinity for each other in real life too and after his divorce with Dimple Kapadia, Rajesh took on with Tina. She moved into his lavish house Aashirwaad on Carter Road, however he never agreed on marrying her. By the time this relationship ended, she attended a Gujarati wedding wearing a black sari. Conventionally, a Gujarati wedding colours are red and gold, but she was the only one dressed minimally. A son of a Gujarati industrialist seemed to have taken note of this unconventional stance of hers and thought that how different, yet pretty she was. This was Anil Ambani , Dhirubhai Ambani’s younger son who transformed her life later.
A couple of months later, Anil ran into Tina in Philadelphia and she was formally introduced to him. He asked her out, but since she was always approached by random men being a star, she seemed to have reached a deadlock and declined. She broke up with Rajesh in 1986; Tina was again introduced to Anil by her nephew who insisted that she meet him and somehow agreed to so unwillingly. However, she kept on exhibiting her wavering mind on the proposition. But when she finally gave in and met him, what moved her that how genuine and straightforward he was when he simply told her, “You are pretty”.
On the talk show, Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, Tina recounted their first date, “The first time I met him, I was quite struck by his simplicity. I found him very upfront and genuine….He was unlike the other men I had met, because most of the guys I met were from films. Also, we spoke the same language, not literally, but we were brought up in a similar manner.”
Anil knew that he had found the one for him and Tina felt that this is the kind of guy she needed to marry. But the journey ahead was not a simple one. It was just a few months they had dated before the blossoming romance found its place all over the newspapers and the Ambanis as conservative they were, did not seem amused by this. Their son wanted to tie the knot with an actress who had been infamous for openly living with a man. Anil’s parents asked him to put an end to this relationship. And dutiful as he always was, he broke up with Tina after explaining the situation to her. Tina’s film career was already at its tail end. After yet another failed romance, dismayed, she decided in 1987 to leave for Los Angeles to qualify as an interior designer. And then, both of them had no contact with each other, whatsoever for a long four years. Meanwhile, Anil kept on convincing his parents to marry Tina. And she, in turn, kept her head down and did not set any news mills rolling. Finally, seeing their son’s loyalty and commitment to Tina, they caved. Finally Anil and Tina got married in February 1991 in an opulent wedding.
As of now Tina Ambani is the chairperson of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani and leading on the operations there, making it to be a hospital that meets the international standards.
