Love & a game of cricket

This dashing young couple from Mumbai is living it up both personally as well as professionally, committed as they are to their work they love and a relationship they believe in. Meet Radhika Mehta, who is the Manager of Marketing and Merchandise for the reputed cricket team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and spouse Achint Gupta who is the Head of Content and Media, KKR. Of course, it's cricket and golf too

This love story was first scripted in 2008 at the New Delhi airport even as sports journalists, Achint Gupta and Radhika Mehta made a beeline for cricketer Virat Kohli-their interview for the day. (Both happened to be working for different news channels, having completed their respective courses in journalism from Delhi University).

Conversation, friendship and romance were a given-in slow and steady progression, given their shared interests and common values. "Contrary to the truism that opposites attract, it's a good thing to have similar passions and interests. It makes things more interesting, there's so much to discuss," points out Radhika.

"Both of us are passionate about sports and both love to travel and live to the fullest. We also happen to be die-hard romantics and love to give and receive surprises," shares Achint. All of this has clearly been good enough to set up a rock-solid base for partnership in life and eventually work.

So be it an elaborate, meticulously orchestrated proposal planned by Achint (complete with tuxedo, limousine and a white dress) or renewing their wedding vows in the very same outfits in the Maldives a couple of years later or pitching great new ideas to take Kolkata Knight Riders to new highs, everything this couple does is a work of heart. No half measures, and definitely no lack of passion.

While the parents were initially apprehensive (she's a Punjabi, he's not), they were reassured by the children's choice once they met them and the duo were duly wed with the elders' blessings in 2012.

THE MANTRAS OF MARRIAGE

• Trust and respect
• Love
• Shared passion
• Keeping the romance alive
• Work-life balance

"The lockdown, especially taught us many lessons on prioritising and doing justice to both work and our spouse"

- Radhika

Red rosed with my Valentine: Achint and Radhika

From strength to strength

In further pursuit of his career goals, Achint shifted to Mumbai from New Delhi whilst he was still working with Star Sports. He was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders as Head of Content & Media. By now, Radhika had moved to Mumbai too.

"As it so happened, the collaborations for work happened just organically. Radhika was then working with Rishi Narain Golf Management and helped organise a golf tournament for KKR," says Achint. "One thing led to another, and she was called for an interview with KKR. She would now be the Manager of Marketing and Merchandise."

Sure enough, it's an exciting space to be in given the frequent travel and matches, not to forget the frenetic 'buzz' of the IPL season of which KKR is a high-profile participant. But it is important to keep the gap between work and home. "The lockdown, especially taught us many lessons on prioritising and doing justice to both work and our spouse," says Radhika. "So while weekdays are for work, weekends are for us."

Quality time for the duo consists of playing golf (both are keen players of the game), travel to an exciting destination twice a year or more (this was before the pandemic happened, of course) and planning happy little surprises for each other.

Apart from this, both are devoted Krishna Bhakts and make it a point to visit ISKCON together. What according to the two of them are the pillars of a marriage? "Trust and respect for each other," says Radhika without missing a beat. On his part, Achint would root for "trust and an element of surprise."

Achint and Radhika with Denesh Ramdin,
West Indies Cricketer

By this, he means that it never lets the romance die. "It's all too easy to get consumed by the rough and tumble of day to day pressures. But when you take a day or week off with your spouse, spend time and take efforts to make the itinerary special, it generally pays rich dividends in terms of keeping your partner feeling loved and cherished," he expresses.

The instances of the above are many: from the recent trip the couple took to Dubai to celebrate Achint's birthday to their annual "love anniversary" on June 5 (the day they officially became a couple.) "Life is meant to be celebrated and so is a relationship," says Radhika. "The holidays and surprises we plan for each other are painstakingly planned with great attention to detail and each other's likes and dislikes."

Though largely in sync with each other, the couple does have their share of fights, but of conflict management is the key. "One ought to accept differences of opinion as a matter of course, particularly since we both happen to belong to the same industry and know more about each other's work than most couples do. Each of us, therefore, is bound to have a different point of view and approach," says Achint. "The critical thing at all times is to remember is that both of us have the other's best interests at heart. When you keep that at the back of your minds, things don't escalate out of control and you tend to pull out of the negative space sooner rather than later."

As things stand, life currently is both hectic and rewarding even as the duo look forward to their new home at Lodha Belmondo (on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway) "The colony is a wonderful concept and is essentially built for golf lovers," smiles Achint. "We look forward to spending time there."

Bringing up baby (Err, don't know yet.)

Like every married couple, the duo has discussed the prospect of starting a family. "The thing is that we just don't know when we would be ready. Right now, it's just work and each other and we are fully committed to both. Kids are a serious decision," they say. "We aren't saying yes or no-but choosing to take each day as it comes."