Our love for each other kept us going during tough times : Nussrat and Yash

During an exclusive Valentine’s Day shoot with Calcutta Times, actors Nussrat Jahan and Yash Daasguptaa, who have been married for the past four-and-half years, speak to us about their map of love, their chemistry, favourite hang-out spots in the city and more. Read on...
How did you deal with society’s judgment when your relationship began?
Yash Daasguptaa: Yes, things did get difficult, and we were misunderstood in many ways, but we didn’t give up on our love for each other and fought every obstacle together. I guess love helps you battle all odds.
Nussrat Jahan: Despite the rough patches, our feelings kept us going. Love, like roses, has its share of thorns, but it’s always beautiful. I believe Yash and I were meant to be together.
How similar are you two?
YD: Very. We both love food, travelling, driving, working out and spending time with each other.
NJ: After five years of marriage, we look out for each other even in a crowded room. And I know that we won’t settle for anything less.
Do you two fight?
YD: Oh yes, we fight a lot, like any other couple.
NJ: Yes, and I always try to resolve it, as Yash goes into a shutdown mode. I believe a couple should never go to bed without resolving an issue that’s bothering them.

Nussrat, in which role does Yash excel – father, husband or lover?
Yash is a doting father, a hie-hard romantic who makes me feel like a princess, but as a husband… I really don’t know. Our fights are silly at times, but even those Yash fights with logic (smiles).
What about Nusrat as a wife, lover and mother?
YD: As a mother, she is fabulous. As a wife, she is in a full macro-management mode where she makes sure everything is in place.
Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?
NJ: I think everyone should celebrate it. It’s just another reason to celebrate love, and I’m all for it.
YD: I don't believe in celebrating it, but when your partner is hell-bent on doing it, you have no other option (smiles). But I don’t have the pressure of buying her V-Day gifts, as she loves flowers and handwritten notes. That’s good for me, as I feel more comfortable expressing my feelings through writing rather than being too vocal about it.
Do you remember your first Valentine's Day?
YD: On our first Valentine's Day we had a big fight because Nussrat took up a show in North Bengal and I had to be all alone in Kolkata.
NJ: Actually, that fight melted my heart, as I could fathom that Yash was missing me!
Your relationship has gone through a lot of ups and downs. What keeps the bond strong?
YD: You just follow your heart and don’t think what others think about it.
NJ: The day we promised to grow old with each other was the day I thought we would break up. I got into his car to tell him that we were breaking up, but we started talking. Then Yash drove me away, and we almost absconded for a day! The rest is history.

Box :
YD: We bond over food. We search the alleys and lanes of Kolkata (with masks and caps on) to discover the best food the city has to offer. What’s more, we love coming to The Glenburn Penthouse, as it is secluded, and one can see Victoria Memorial and Maidan from here which makes you feel closer to your city.
NJ: We love to take boat rides from Prinsep Ghat and have the bhanrer cha and masala muri there. Long drives to Rajarhat and over Red Road late at night are also something we both look forward. And I just love it when Yash plays my favourite music on such drives. We also go on phuchka dates at Vivekananda Park and chicken roll dates in New Alipore every fortnight. So, our ‘Map of love’ covers the whole city.
Pics: Anindya Saha; Makeup & hair: Pritha Dutta; Styled by: Subrata Ray