Tycoon Dr Vijay Mallya talks about his family and the gorgeous women in his life on a TV show. Excerpts from an interview conducted by actor-anchor Lillette Dubey.
Lillete: Why is your wife Rekha shrouded in mystery?
Vijay: She's a private person. She keeps out of the media spotlight.
Lillete: You are in the news with lots of gorgeous women. How does she react to this?
Vijay: She understands my business and my personality. She lets me do what I need to do. I'm a brand ambassador for my brands. These are associated with 'high life'.
Lillete: This is your second marriage. Do you believe in the institution of marriage?
Vijay: The institution of marriage has been there since time immemorial. But today it is getting diluted. I have a great relationship with my first wife Sameera. I respect the fact that she's brought up our son Siddhartha well. We have a son together and that's not something that is easily forgotten. So I believe in the institution of marriage. Otherwise I wouldn't have got married in the first place.
Lillete: What about fidelity?
Vijay: This is not necessarily linked only to marriage. Fidelity is something that invokes an element of trust. If two people have a relationship, whether it's a marital relationship or not, and the trust is shaken, then it has an impact. If you commit yourself to somebody, you stick by that commitment. If you cannot stick by that commitment, you state your case and you end that commitment. But, infidelity seems to imply doing things behind somebody's back. That's not something that I do.
Lillete: Karna hai to khullam khulla karo?
Vijay: My life is an open book. Those who love me appreciate it and take me for what I am.
Lillete: Were you involved in the bringing up of your kids?
Vijay: I wasn't a hands-on father. I hired good nannies for my children and left it to their expertise. My children are very dear to me. I am responsible as a father to play an active role in determining their future.
Lillete: You turned 50 in December. What were your regrets and what were you grateful for?
Vijay: You can't let your failures get you down. But I want to see my children well-settled.That's a priority. I want to see the UB Group Spirits' division as number one in the world. Being number three is not good enough. I want to see Kingfisher Airlines as the number one airline in India.
