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Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa are ticking many firsts off their bucket list
Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa aren’t your typical Bollywood couple. The film stars, who’ve shared the silver screen merely once but a married life since November 2021, recently announced to the world that they were expecting their first child. A day later, when launched as brand advocates for Tourism New Zealand’s #BeyondTheFilter campaign, there were no starry airs or questions unanswered when they spoke to a bustling room of press, photographers and flashing cameras. Despite being from the film fraternity, theirs isn’t a relationship that needs a nod from social media; their undeniable chemistry and quiet bond is proof enough of its existence.
In an exclusive conversation with HELLO!, Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa speak to Dayle Pereira-Alemao about the joy of growing up together and what kind of travel companions they are to each other.
“We've literally grown up together”
Rajkummar and Patralekhaa’s relationship has evolved through the many years they’ve been together and like it, so has the way they’ve travelled. Says Patralekhaa, “We really look forward to our travels because we like doing the same things, mostly. We see a city, we walk a lot, and we do obviously the essentials that one has to do, but I think walking is a major part of how we travel and see the city through it.” Speaking about how their bond played a part in the way they travel, she continues, “We have been together for 15 years now, and it's like we've literally grown up together. We went to all the places for the first time together. So all the experiences were new. It was fresh, and it really meant something to both of us.”
“It will stay with us for a very long time”
The couple might have manifested their partnership with Tourism New Zealand; simply because of how long the destination was bookmarked by them. Rajkummar shares, “It was on our bucket list. We always wanted to go there because a lot of our friends had visited, and they had some amazing stories to share. Patralekhaa's parents also visited a couple of years back. So when this initiative came to us through Tourism New Zealand to be the face of Beyond the Filter, we were extremely delighted. We got to see some very memorable places like the Sanctuary Mountains, Taupō, the Haka shop, the hot springs, meeting the Maori people. It will stay with us for a very, very long time. It was surreal.”
The actress' highlight of her New Zealand trip was more than just another travel experience for her. “I think it has to be Sanctuary Mountain for me. The moment we walked into the forest: it was just so calming, it was peaceful, and it felt like those trees—which were so tall—they were protecting us and they was embracing us. It just did something to me.”
“Travel is 100% our time”
Their travel style as a couple is where they are perfectly in sync. “What I love the most about traveling together is we like doing the same things. We don't differ, and that's why there's no conflict in our travel. I really look forward to traveling with Raj. I love planning my travels with him because I just feel like we are good together, traveling,” says Patralekhaa.
“It’s very seamless. It's absolutely our time, like where there's no work call, there's no work commitment, nothing. It's 100% our time,” adds Rajkummar.
