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Lisa Ray: Motherhood is on the cards

Lisa Ray is all set to marry the man of her dreams, Jason Dehni, vice president of Scotiabank Group, on October 20.

The beautiful model-turned-actress shares her wedding plans with Subhash K Jha.

What will you be wearing on your wedding day?

Wendell Rodricks is designing my wedding gown. He's a dear friend, who has known me since I first landed in Mumbai in 1991. There will be a strong Indian influence in our wedding starting with the sangeet on Friday night. My friend Suphala, an accomplished tabla player based in New York, will be performing that evening. I will be wearing a Tarun Tahiliani anarkali outfit.

On the wedding day, I will change into a Satya Paul sari. I also have a lovely Laila Motwani ensemble.

Jason will be rocking in a custom-designed Raghu Rathore bandgala. Raghu is also an old friend. We've been joking that since both my father and Jason are wearing exactly the same Rathore bandgalas, I have to get a string of pearls for Jason for him to stand out!

'We will be having a reception in India next year'

Would there be any guests from Mumbai, especially the entertainment industry?

We will be having a reception in India next year to celebrate with friends and family who can't make it out to Napa Valley. 

Are you planning to relocate to India? Apparently, you've been searching for a suitable home in Mumbai.

Jason and I are going to explore many options. We have just bought a house in Toronto and will need some time to settle into our new life together.

I am eager to spend more time in India but I will always have a foot in both worlds.

I've just come out of a demanding filming schedule. I have to put the finishing touches on my book. I have optioned a novel called The Tiger's Claw to turn into a film. It is based on a historical character I've been obsessed with for years.

I just finished a campaign for Pantene called 'Beautiful Lengths' where we ask people to grow and donate their hair to make real hair wigs for women battling cancer. It was a wonderful experience to film this campaign in Toronto.

'My career was a happy accident'

You are shooting for Top Chef Canada. You did a film based on cooking with Dilip Mehta. Are you a good cook?

I'm passionate about food and eating, even more so now that I'm doing another season of Top Chef Canada.

You did Kasoor with Vikram Bhatt and much later the enchanting Water with Deepa Mehra. How do you see your journey as an actor so far?

On my last trip to Mumbai, I connected with old friends like Vikram Bhatt and John Abraham.

There's so much talent and momentum in Bollywood now. I love watching this era of Hindi films. I always get offers from Bollywood. Post-marriage, I will be planning my next chapter. My career was a happy accident. I didn't plan on any of it. From becoming a supermodel at 16 to starring in iconic videos like Afreen Afreen to starring in films like Kasoor and Water and Top Chef.

'I'm looking forward to being a wife'

Since you are 40, would you be pursuing motherhood immediately after marriage?

Motherhood is on the cards, but let's see. I want my children to be immersed in both the East and West, as I was. 

And yes, I'm looking forward to being a wife and being Jason's 'plus one'.