Rhea Pillai
Encyclopedia
Rhea Pillai is an Indian model. She is a brand ambassador for various products and an instructor for the Art of Living Foundation.
, who acted in the first Indian talkie Alam Ara
(1931).
In 1998, Rhea Pillai married actor Sanjay Dutt
, but they separated after a few years. She stated in 2006 that although they had separated four years earlier, they remained close friends. After the divorce became official in 2008, and details of the settlement were published by the tabloid MiD DAY, the broadsheet newspaper The Telegraph
criticised Pillai for her materialism
and her conduct in relation to Dutt.
Pillai is now married to Indian tennis
player Leander Paes
; they have one daughter, Aiyana.
In 2003, she was honored as the "Woman of the Year", along with Raveena Tandon
, Anoushka Shankar
and Ritu Beri
, on International Women's Day
. The event was promoted by Indiatimes
, Asmi Diamonds and the Indian Television Academy. Pillai's award was for social services.
In 2006 she had a minor screen role in the Hindi movie Corporate
.
She is actively involved in the Art of Living Foundation, founded by Sri Sri Ravishankar, and is an instructor for the Art of Living courses.
Biography
Her father is Raymond Pillai, a financial controller at IBM Europe. Her mother is a doctor, Dhurreshwar Dhanrajgir, the daughter of Maharaj Narsingir Dhanrajgir Gyan Bahadur of Hyderabad and actress ZubeidaZubeida
Zubeida Begum Dhanrajgir was an Indian film actress. She acted in the first Indian talkie movie Alam Ara . Her credits include early hits Devdas , and Sagar Movietone's first talkie, Meri Jaan....
, who acted in the first Indian talkie Alam Ara
Alam Ara
Alam Ara is a 1931 film directed by Ardeshir Irani. It was the first Indian sound film.Irani recognized the importance that sound would have on the cinema, and raced to complete Alam Ara before several contemporary sound films. Alam Ara debuted at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai on March 14, 1931...
(1931).
In 1998, Rhea Pillai married actor Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt is an Indian Hindi film actor and politician. Dutt, son of Hindi film actors Sunil and Nargis Dutt, made his acting debut in 1981.-Personal life:...
, but they separated after a few years. She stated in 2006 that although they had separated four years earlier, they remained close friends. After the divorce became official in 2008, and details of the settlement were published by the tabloid MiD DAY, the broadsheet newspaper The Telegraph
The Telegraph (Kolkata)
The Telegraph is an Indian daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Kolkata since 1982. It is published by the ABP Group and the newspaper vies with the Times of India for the position of having the widest widest circulation of any newspaper in Eastern India.According to the Audit...
criticised Pillai for her materialism
Economic materialism
Materialism is a mindset that views the consumption and acquisition of material goods as positive and desirable. It is often bound up with a value system which regards social status as being intrinsically linked to affluence as well as the perception that happiness can be increased through...
and her conduct in relation to Dutt.
Pillai is now married to Indian tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player Leander Paes
Leander Paes
Leander Adrian Paes, pronounced pās, is an Indian professional tennis player who currently features in the doubles events in the ATP tour and the Davis Cup tournament...
; they have one daughter, Aiyana.
In 2003, she was honored as the "Woman of the Year", along with Raveena Tandon
Raveena Tandon
Raveena Tandon is a National Film Award winning Indian actress, producer, and a former model. She has primarily worked in Bollywood films, though she appeared in a few Tamil, Kannada and Telugu films as well....
, Anoushka Shankar
Anoushka Shankar
Anoushka Shankar is a British Indian sitar player and composer who lives between the United States, the United Kingdom, and India. She is the daughter of Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar and Sukanya Shankar...
and Ritu Beri
Ritu Beri
Ritu Beri is a New Delhi based International fashion designer. She is the first Asian designer to head the French fashion brand, Scherrer.-Career:...
, on International Women's Day
International Women's Day
International Women's Day , originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and...
. The event was promoted by Indiatimes
Indiatimes
Indiatimes is the Internet subsidiary of The Times of India Group, under which, some of the largest websites in India - The Times of India, The Economic Times, Navbharat Times and Maharashtra Times operate....
, Asmi Diamonds and the Indian Television Academy. Pillai's award was for social services.
In 2006 she had a minor screen role in the Hindi movie Corporate
Corporate (film)
Corporate is a Bollywood film released in July 2006. The film directed by Madhur Bhandarkar stars Bipasha Basu, Kay Kay Menon, Payal Rohatgi, Minissha Lamba and Raj Babbar.-Plot:...
.
She is actively involved in the Art of Living Foundation, founded by Sri Sri Ravishankar, and is an instructor for the Art of Living courses.