India Models

Reha Pillai Dutt

Rhea Pillai-Dutt is the ambassadress for Piaget and Chopard,a meditation teacher, a leading model and the wife of film star Sanjay Dutt.

But what is it about her that makes her one of the most sought-after women? Meena Sharma met her and tried to figure it out

FRAGILE, delicate, yet tall and lissom, Rhea Pillai-Dutt has to be one of the most contented and happy people you’ve ever seen. She has a serene glow,and a look of calm that adds to her aura of mystery. It comes, probably,from being herself, no matter what she does. While talking about Piaget watches, while teaching the philosophy behind meditation and yes, even while throwing a party to celebrate her husband's Filmfare award.

A.While modelling, I was already looking for something to do that was in a related field, and yet more substantial than modelling. My friend Devanshi Mehta asked me to be the spokesperson for Chopard and I thought to myself, why not?"From the very beginning, I was involved in all aspects, right from brand-building, to setting up the show, to media relations. Now, it has become something that runs itself, and doesn’t really need me hands on. But I am still very involved", says Pillai.

One can see Rhea playing hostess at any Chopard event in India, and keeping close tabs on the market.It’s very interesting, very challenging",she says.Nevertheless, it does manage to leave less time for modeling.

Q.How does that work itself out, then?

A.Rhea is very clear about her priorities. It’s marriage, her meditation,and work. Nothing specific is an issue. She works hard at everything. Like hubby Sanjay, for instance. "When we first met, it was very clear to both of us that we would marry some day. And then the whole TADA bit happened. After that, both of us needed time to get over it. It isn’t something you can put behind you that fast…" she reminisces.

"Marriage was never the issue", she says. "We'd been going around for so long that it didn’t really matter. Also, his ex-wife Richa was dying. After she passed away, Sanjay needed to sort things out, so it wasn’t as if there was any hurry," she says.

Q.But then, why the impromptu marriage?

A."We decided to get married suddenly because the moment seemed so perfect. It just felt right… I can’t really explain it. As far as I was concerned it was not any different being his girlfriend and now being his wife, but suddenly it was so much more important to people that I was ‘Mrs. Dutt’," she says, amused at the idea.

Now that she’s just had a baby a few months back, Rhea is enjoying the experience of motherhood. "I spend as much time with my baby as I possibly can. My family comes first. It’s my priority. I never even leave her with the servants to look after. She’s my baby and I want to enjoy every step of the upbringing".

Q.Moving on to another facet of life, one wonders what got Rhea into meditation?

A. "I've always been meditating in some way or the other – I was always a spiritually inclined person. I had quit for a year, and then I wanted to get back to it. And then one day, I met Sangeeta Jani, through whom I did the Art of Living course," she says. Doing the course, however, is completely different from teaching it… "Even then, though I practiced regularly, I never thought I'd become a teacher. When I did the advanced course, my friend Vikram Hazra asked me to attend the teacher-training course and I did. I've been teaching ever since," she says.

Q.Meditation is a way of life… has she managed to pass her way on to her husband, who comes across as a wild and reckless person?

A."Sanjay only appears that way. He is very different otherwise," she stresses. And no, Sanjay is not really into it.

Q.What else is Rhea planning to do now?

A."I am not really the kind of person who makes plans on a day-to-day or along-term basis. Instead of wondering what the future has to offer, I prefer to live in the present and make the most of it. That way I accomplish much more and I also think it is more constructive as I don't worry. Life and everything it entails is so unpredictable -- you could have it all today andit could all be gone tomorrow, so why make huge plans?" she says.