‘So she complains a lot…’: How Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant navigated love despite the former’s long work hours | Feelings News

Balancing personal relationships with a demanding professional life can be tricky, even more so when your passion project demands long hours every single day. 
Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh and Nita Ambani and a key figure in Jio Platforms and Reliance Retail Ventures, once admitted that his wife Radhika Merchant used to complain about the hours he poured into work — particularly into his project based in Jamnagar. “I have a philosophy. This is my passion project. I give about one or one and a half hours a day to Vantara where we do animal rescue. The rest of the time I am devoted to my father, and I give about 14 hours a day. So, 15 hours of work and 1 hour, no matter what, however difficult it is (I devote) to animal rescue,” Anant said in an interview with CNBC TV18.
His statement also offered a glimpse into how the couple navigated this challenge over time. “For me, Jamnagar is my home. So I try to base myself over here on weekends and whenever I get a holiday. So Radhika complains a lot… but Radhika now loves it. Now she wants to come to take care of the animals more than me. So Radhika is a great support. She’s also got involved,” Anant said, highlighting how Radhika’s initial discomfort gradually transformed into active participation. 
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So, how can couples maintain emotional intimacy and ensure the other partner doesn’t feel neglected?
Neha Cadabam, senior psycholog and executive director at Cadabams Hospitals, says, “Maintaining emotional intimacy in a high-demand work dynamic requires intentional effort. Even if time is limited, what really matters is the quality of connection in the moments couples do get to spend together. A brief but focused conversation at the end of the day, small gestures of appreciation, or shared rituals, like a quick walk or morning tea, can go a long way in reinforcing emotional closeness.”

It’s also important for both partners to have clarity on the situation, she states. If one partner is deeply involved in work, and the other understands the purpose or vision behind it, it helps frame the time apart in a more supportive light. However, this understanding must be mutual, and regularly revisited through open communication. Emotional needs evolve, and so should the efforts to meet them, even if in small but meaningful ways.
How can a partner constructively express their concerns about feeling left out or secondary to work?
Cadabam mentions that it’s “natural for one partner to feel sidelined” when the other is absorbed in something as all-encompassing as a profession or a calling. But expressing this does not need to be confrontational, it can be an invitation to reconnect. Using “I” statements rather than “you” accusations helps keep the dialogue open and non-defensive. For example, saying “I miss spending time with you” is often better received than “You never have time for me.”
“It also helps to express appreciation for the partner’s dedication, while gently sharing what’s missing emotionally. Timing and tone make a big difference. Choosing a calm, private moment to have this conversation, rather than during conflict or stress, increases the chances of being heard and understood. The goal isn’t to diminish the importance of work, but to reaffirm the importance of the relationship,” she suggests. 
In cases where one partner gradually becomes involved in the other’s professional world, what boundaries or balance should be maintained?
Cadabam informs, “One of the key things is ensuring that each partner continues to have something that is uniquely their own, be it a hob, role, or space where their identity is not tied to the relationship or the shared work.”Story continues below this ad
It also becomes important to separate professional feedback from personal emotion. Involvement in each other’s work should never overshadow the emotional dynamic of the relationship. “Setting boundaries around work hours, maintaining some private time that isn’t focused on work conversations, and making space for independent decisions are all healthy ways to maintain balance,” the expert concludes.