9 days after tying the nuptial with her long-time entrepreneur beau, Anand Ahuja, Sonam Kapoor walked down the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival 2018. She aced her red carpet look with a lehenga dress from Ralph and Russo and happily showing off her engagement ring and mehendi in her palms.
Now, just a day post their wedding in a Sikh wedding ceremony in Mumbai, Sonam Kapoor changed her name to Sonam Kapoor Ahuja on her official Instagram handle. Read that full story here.
We often tend to criticise those women who suffix their husbands’ surnames to their names. We must condemn such patriarchal stereotypes only when it’s forced upon any new bride. But what if it’s the choice of that woman itself? Nothing wrong there, right? Something similar happened with Sonam Kapoor Ahuja. (Don't Miss: 17 Popular Bollywood Actresses Who Found Love Outside The Industry And Married Rich Businessmen)
In an interview with the Indian Express, Sonam commented on changing her name. She said, “I have always said that I am a feminist. I have the choice to change my name to what I want to. Kapoor is also my father’s name. So it is a man’s name anyway. I chose to keep both. Anand has also changed his name but nobody wrote about that. I just decided to do it on social media because that’s my platform to say that I have made a choice. It is my personal choice. Nobody put a gun to my head. You should ask him (Anand). He has also changed his name and decided to add something as well”.
She further added that she is a feminist and it’s purely her choice to change her name. She retorted, “I am a true feminist. I believe in my choice. My husband or his family have not asked me to do anything. I have decided to do it myself. I never asked my husband to do it. He did it himself. The whole idea of feminism is to have equal opportunities and the choice to do what you want to do. So, whether I want to or do not want to change my name is my personal choice”. (Also Read: Aashka's Unique Customised 'Mangalsutra' Is A Design We Have Never Seen Before)
Speaking about Anand’s family and the mutual acceptance, Sonam said, “If you can give respect to your father, you can give that same respect to your husband. It’s a cyclical thing which needs to break somewhere. I want to be a part of Anand’s family and he is a part of my family as well. It’s a complicated discussion but this is my choice. Somebody judging me for my choice is not what feminism stands for”.
Recent media reports have been suggesting that Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and Anand Ahuja shall be shifting to London soon. Clearing the air about the same, Sonam revealed, “If you can give respect to your father, you can give that same respect to your husband. It’s a cyclical thing which needs to break somewhere. I want to be a part of Anand’s family and he is a part of my family as well. It’s a complicated discussion but this is my choice. Somebody judging me for my choice is not what feminism stands for”.
And finally replying to what all changes after marriage, Sonam said, “It is the same. There is no difference. Your life doesn’t change that much (after marriage). Women need to stop thinking that way. Work is going to stay the same, hopefully”.
We applaud Sonam’s thinking, her take on feminism and exercising her choices. We even applaud Anand for actually changing his name and adding his wife’s name to his own. Rarely, do we find such men, right? May Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and Anand Ahuja lead a blissful marital life and keep inspiring million men and women out there.
Next Read: 8 Reasons Why You Should Or Should Not Change Your Name After Marriage