Vikram opens up about his long-lasting interfaith marriage
Celebrated actor Vikram recently opened up about his over three-decade long marriage to psychologist Shailaja Balakrishnan in a candid interview. The Tamil superstar known as ‘Chiyaan’ Vikram got candid about meeting his wife for the first time and the challenges they faced as an intercultural and interfaith couple initially.
In a revealing chat with popular podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, Vikram said he immediately felt a deep connection when he first met his now-wife Shailaja, who tried to dissuade him from pursuing acting back then as he was recovering from an injury. However, the talented actor was determined to make his dream career in films work. Vikram praised his wife of calling her a great friend and support system who helped him overcome several personal and professional obstacles over the years.
The multi-faceted artist opened up about the compromise and understanding it took for their marriage to last over 30 years, given their different backgrounds. While he hails from a Tamil family with Christian and Hindu roots, Shailaja is a Malayali psychologist. Vikram candidly admitted to having told his wife early on that films will always be his first love while she is his second. Despite facing disapproval from her conservative family initially, Shailaja stood by her husband’s side steadfastly.
The couple who have two childrentogether- a daughter and actor son, have learnt to respect each other’s individuality and forgive shortcomings, according to Vikram. He praised his wife’s calm and caring nature which helped him immensely in his volatile profession. After many ups and downs, the star couple have come to realize that adjustment is key to a long-lasting marriage Bond. Vikram expressed gratitude for having found a soulmate like Shailaja to share his life journey with.
