Amruta Fadnavis: Who Is Maharashtra’s ‘First Lady’, Now Set To Perform Her Role As ‘Vahini’? – News18

Last Updated:December 06, 2024, 00:21 IST

Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, expressed her elation on social media by sharing Urdu poetry, while also thanking Maharashtra for “showering your love on your ‘bhau and vahini'”

Soon after her husband Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the Maharashtra chief minister on Thursday, his wife Amruta Fadnavis cited patience and perseverance as his main qualities for his political success.

“Patience and perseverance are the main qualities that have taken Devendra Fadnavis to where he is,” she said.

Amruta Fadnavis later expressed her elation by sharing Urdu poetry on social media, while also thanking Maharashtra for “showering your love on your bhau and vahini“, Marathi for brother and sister-in-law. She promised to perform the role of the state’s “First Lady” with a “mission to serve”.

“…Thanks Maharashtra for wholeheartedly showering your love on your भाऊ & वहिनी! I will perform my role as your वहिनी to the best of my abilities- with a mission to serve & make a positive difference,” (sic) she said in a post on X.

The slightly modified couplet that she used in the post — its writer not immediately known — is popular across the political spectrum. It speaks of flowers blooming again as autumn is not forever, echoing in essence her husband’s slogan ‘Me Punha Yein’ (I will come back again) from the 2019 assembly polls.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi used it after losing to the BJP candidate in Himachal Pradesh. Supporters of Akhilesh Yadav used it in reels celebrating his success in Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Even Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) used the lines as Hemant Soren returned as CM, after fighting off a BJP challenge in the elections held simultaneously with Maharashtra.

‘BANKER, SINGER, SOCIAL WORKER, UNADULTERATED FREE SPIRIT’

Earlier, while talking to reporters, Amruta Fadnavis said she was happy that “Devendraji” had become an MLA for the sixth time and had taken oath as the CM for the third time. She, however, stressed there is a sense of responsibility for the mandate of the government.

While Devendra Fadnavis is occupied with his political career, she remains in the public eye for her singing, acting, and various professional engagements. The couple, who got married in 2005, has a daughter, Divija.

The 45-year-old has maintained a steady career – rising through the ranks to become a vice-president in 17 years at Axis Bank. Born Amruta Ranade to a doctor couple – renowned ophthalmologist Sharad Ranade and gynaecologist Charulata Ranade – in Nagpur, she studied commerce, economics and finance from Nagpur and Pune.

On her social media, she describes herself as a banker, singer, social worker, and “unadulterated free spirit”. Her Instagram bio carries the message: “Stay unique!!”

She has more than a million followers on Instagram, where she posts a mix of her social and political life besides her fashion choices, new songs and funny reels.

Her passion for the performing arts has led to collaborations with Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, singer Kailash Kher and director Prakash Jha among others. Her YouTube channel, ‘Amruta Fadnavis Official’, has more than 50,000 subscribers and 100-plus videos.

These include her latest Hindi single, Saawan, and a religious song with Breathless singer Shankar Mahadevan. A live performance of patriotic songs by her has got more than four lakh views while her rendering of a poem by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year has crossed 13 lakh, or 1.3 million views.