When Indra Nooyi admitted it is ‘not easy being married to her’: ‘I have to dress up like a penguin…’

She added, “So, he looks at me and says, ‘Why do I come to these events? I don’t even enjoy them. I have to dress up like a penguin, put on this black tie.”

Nooyi emphasised that these situations made her question traditional gender roles considered the norm for women. “I realised that maybe put it the other way. Women always accepted it. The same thing happened to women too when they became wives. They just accepted it because society said that’s the norm for the woman to be nice, smile, and chit chat with some other women about coupons and kids. But for men, they didn’t do that.”

Here’s what you must consider (Photo: Freepik)

Stressing that her husband has managed to do a fantastic job, she said: “Other times, I give you…We go to dinners and I’m sitting between two men who might be world leaders and having the time of my life having a great conversation. My husband, meanwhile, is sitting between two women who are all great people, but they have nothing of interest to him. So, he’s now making up conversation to have with them. He does a fantastic job. I married a keeper. He does a great job. But I would tell you, I would have had a tough time being married to me.”

Ways to maintain the delicate balance in relationships when your spouse is constantly in the public eye

The most powerful relationships aren’t about matching professional achievements; “they’re about creating a partnership where both individuals can grow, explore, and support each other’s unique paths,” noted Dr Chandni Tugnait, MD (A.M), psychotherapist, coach, and healer, founder and director of Gateway of Healing.

When partners have different professional trajectories, it triggers deep emotional responses, added Dr Tugnait. “Feelings of inadequacy, pride, support, and sometimes jealousy can emerge. The key is recognising these feelings as normal and treating them as opportunities for deeper understanding, not sources of conflict,” said Dr Tugnait.

The most successful couples treat their relationship like a living, breathing entity that can adapt and change. “They don’t stick to rigid roles or expectations. Instead, they continuously reinvent how they support each other, understanding that careers are just one part of their shared journey,” said Dr Tugnait.