The compelling journey of polo player, DJ and designer Rina Shah

Having become one of the few professional female Polo players in India, that too in her late thirties, along with being an entrepreneur, shoe designer, drummer and DJ, Rina Shah sets an example for Indian women to be the best version of themselves and never let their inner flame dim.

That's not all. Shah's footwear brand Rinaldi Designs has global celebrities like Naomi Campbell, Natalie Portman, Goldie Hawn, Rekha, Shilpa Shetty, Kareena Kapoor, Tina Ambani, Gauri Khan and more as clientele.

IANSlife speaks to Shah in a Mother's Day special:

Q: You wear many hats, but sports remain a prominent one. What draws you to Polo?

A: Polo has given me wings to fly. I fell in love with the sport from the first day itself, and since then there was no looking back. The sport is special in many ways, but what excites me the most is the adrenaline rush and the patience that it has taught me. Polo has also given me some very special relationships, like my beautiful horses Belle and Coco. As you can see, I am drawn to the sport in more ways than one.

Q: You have trained abroad for Polo. Compared to countries like Argentina, US and UK, where do you see women in polo in India?

A: In India, Polo is a dying sport because there is a severe lack of infrastructure that deters people from playing the sport. There are few young women who have come into the sport, and I hope that they promote and play the sport for longer. My mission is to grow the sport and inspire more and more women to participate in this majestic sport.

Q: In a culture where women are indoctrinated to put themselves last, you have broken many stereotypes. What do you think about women, and mothers, being put in a box?

A: Nobody should be put in a box, be it a woman, mothers, sisters or anyone else. Everyone should have the right to live their lives and pursue their passion. In my opinion and given what I have seen over the years, I believe that women are always stronger than men in many ways. They are made for so much more and just being a mother can't be enough. One needs to keep living their dream and achieve what they want irrespective of their age.

Q: What are your thoughts on female DJs in India? Is there still a long way to go before they become mainstream?

A: There are a few successful women DJs in India and are mainstream. But yes, very few compared to men in the industry. I think in general the music industry and DJs are not at the international level and need to innovate. For me, the artists will benefit from international exposure as that is a great learning curve. (IANSlife)

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