'She will always be our little girl'

Actor Shivarajkumar and wife Geetha cannot be happier. The couple’s elder daughter Nirupama has found a match for herself in Dileep, who both Geetha and Shivarajkumar describe as the ‘best’.

Nirupama and Dileep will be engaged on August 3 at White Petals in Palace Grounds. “We plan to keep it a simple affair,” Geetha tells Metrolife. 

Nirupama and Dileep are currently pursuing their MS in surgery in Mysore and have known each other for a long time now. “When Nirupama broke the news to us, we were happy and had nothing against it,” says Geetha. She further states that when she met Dileep for the very first time, she didn’t feel like she was meeting a stranger. 

“He’s a simple boy who mixes well with people. When I met him for the first time, I felt like I had known him for years. That is how comfortable we were,” she observes. Shivarajkumar, who just returned from a long shooting schedule, adds, “There’s no artificiality about Dileep. He’s not only a simple person but someone who understands and values even the smallest things in life.” 

Geetha notes that the marriage date will be fixed only after the final examination dates are announced. “We don’t want the wedding date to clash with their final exams and practicals because both Nirupama and Dileep are in the final year.

We want them to be free of  exam stress,” says Geetha, who adds that Nirupama and Dileep plan to pursue their super speciality either in Delhi or in some other university in India. 

Shivarajkumar and Geetha say they are very attached to their daughters Nirupama and  Niveditha. Shivarajkumar adds that no matter how busy he is, he always makes it a point to spend quality time with his family. “This is something that was taught and practised by Appaji.

He looked after so many people and despite his demanding schedule, he would make time to sit with us and chat. This is something I’ve tried to emulate,” observes Shivarajkumar.  

He confesses that it is hard to believe that his little girl has grown and will be engaged soon.

“I have a picture of Nirupama as a one- year-old saved on my phone. Whenever she calls, this picture flashes on my phone. She will always be our little girl,” he says. Shivarajkumar credits the good upbringing of his children to his wife Geetha.

“I am usually away on shooting and it is Geetha who guides the children and leads them on the right path. As for me, I find just about any excuse to get back to my family and spend time with them,” he sums up.