New Delhi/IBNS-CMEDIA: Congress veteran Sonia Gandhi has offered a glimpse into her love story with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in a new Instagram reel as she prepares for the launch of her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love.
Days after making her Instagram debut, Sonia shared a reel in which she flips through the pages of her memoir, looks at photographs of herself with late Rajiv Gandhi and recounts how she first met him in England.
Sonia revealed that her search for food resembling Italian cuisine eventually led her to the man who would become the love of her life.
A Greek restaurant brought them together
“Food in England was awful in those days, and there weren’t as many restaurants as there are today. I was constantly looking for a place that served food closer to my taste, particularly Italian food,” Sonia recalled.
“Eventually, we discovered a Greek restaurant where many students, especially Europeans and Indians, would go for their meals. That was where I met Rajiv,” she said.
A mutual friend introduced the two, and they gradually became friends, spending time together at parties and visiting different places.
“A common friend introduced us, and we became friends, going to parties together and visiting different places. We also went to a Valentine’s Day party attended by many students,” the former Congress president said.
Rajiv’s gentleness won her heart
Recalling their first meeting, Sonia said she felt almost immediately that Rajiv was someone she would love to be with. She later discovered that he felt the same way about her.
“Almost immediately, I felt that he was someone I would really love to be with, and I later learned that he felt the same way about me,” she said.
While Rajiv Gandhi’s admirers have long remembered his handsome appearance, Sonia said it was his gentle demeanour that made a lasting impression on her.
“I remember him as a very gentle-looking person. Of course, he was very good-looking, but it was his gentleness that came through and really touched me. That is something I will never forget about our first meeting,” she said.
Through the reel, Sonia offers a personal glimpse into the early days of their relationship ahead of the release of Belonging: A Journey of Love.
The memoir is scheduled to be published in India by HarperCollins on November 10, 2026.
