He?s a doctor who took up acting as a hobby. Today, it?s the hobby that has brought Anuj Saxena success and adulation. His biggest claim to fame: playing Abhay Kapoor, the lead character?s husband in the Balaji soap, Kkusum. But his other roles in serials like Saara Akash have also done their bit to make him one of the most recognised faces on television. With a pharmaceutical company to run, plenty of TV shoots to keep him busy and his debut film, Lips, in the pipeline, Anuj has his hands more than full ? but he?s not complaining.

If his professional life is going great guns, things are equally hunky-dory at home. Anuj recently married finance major Ishmit, who hails from a well-known business family in Delhi. Like her husband, Ishmit?s interests are varied ? finance and banking being the two main ones. Having worked first in Standard Chartered and then the Bank of America, Ishmit is now busy adjusting to the hectic pace of life in Mumbai.

Anuj on Ishmit

It?s quite rare for someone from the world of entertainment to have an arranged marriage. I did, deciding to marry Ishmit only after a few brief meetings. And it?s not even like it was love at first sight. Honestly speaking, the way I was going, I?d never have ever got married. But over time, one realises that you need to settle down and have a family. So, after much urging from my dad, I met Ishmit.

Our very first meeting passed in a blur with the two of us connecting at a purely casual level. I did like her but as we didn?t really get a chance to talk, I had to return to Delhi to get to know her better. And once we got talking, we realised all the things we had in common ? we share the same interests and have the same idea of fun. Of course, what struck me instantly was that Ishmit is very pretty and family-oriented as well.

Delving deeper, I also found Ishmit a very simple, straightforward and no-nonsense kind of a person. Since she comes from a joint family, Ishmit has a strong sense of family values. However, post-marriage, we did have teething problems as she had to adjust to the nuclear family set-up here. In fact, Ishmit is still getting used to the city and the demands of managing a home all by herself. To top it all, she has an actor-husband with a sizeable female fan following so, I am sure it?s a bit difficult for her.

We are still learning things about each other and I must say it has been a wonderful experience. On our six-month anniversary, Ishmit put up quite a show. I came back late from my shoot to find the house completely dark except for the candles she had lit. Ishmit had given all the help an evening off and cooked a delicious Thai dinner. She decorated the house with floating candles, diyas and orchids, which happen to be my favourite flowers. The whole thing came as a huge surprise though a very sweet and romantic one.

Ishmit on Anuj

I was very apprehensive when a marriage proposal came from Anuj?s family simply because I wasn?t interested in marrying an actor. Family friends, who thought we?d make a great couple, had tried to fix the match. Of course, we came from very different backgrounds. I was from Delhi, he was a Mumbaiite; I come from a business background whereas he was from the glamour world ? it didn?t seem right.

Anuj had been on Kkusum for almost three years and like the average viewer, I had seen him on television and read about him. But then you could never imagine that someone who?s just a face on a TV screen or a paper could end up becoming your life partner. Initially, the thought would amuse me but the more we met, I became convinced that Anuj wasn?t your typical actor.

Firstly, Anuj was a doctor, while I was a finance major and to that extent, both of us were academically inclined. Secondly, what struck me, was that unlike many of his profession, Anuj was a remarkably grounded person. His popularity might have won him a huge fan following but Anuj remains unaffected. He doesn?t let the adulation get to him.

It has been eight months since Anuj and I tied the knot and it?s been great so far. In fact, I have learned to appreciate the institution of an arranged marriage, where you learn new things about your partner almost on a daily basis. Anuj has a great sense of humour and is very caring. He is also extremely sensitive towards me and my needs ? he appreciates that I am having problems adjusting to the city and is very understanding about it. The only thing that I find difficult to take is his aloofness. He can become very detached at times.