Yesterday at the launch of Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre’s new venture Jaslok FertilTree, International Fertility Centre, some of the country’s most famous names let their guard down and celebrated that most universal of feelings: of being parents of kids and kids of parents
Yesterday at the launch of Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre's new venture Jaslok FertilTree, International Fertility Centre, some of the country's most famous names let their guard down and celebrated that most universal of feelings: of being parents of kids and kids of parents.
Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan, Farah Khan and Tusshar Kapoor shared some of their most private moments with an audience mostly comprising people who'd been through similar experiences: that of being at the receiving end of Director of Assisted Reproduction & Genetics at Jaslok Hospital Dr Firuza Parikh's outstanding medical care.
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Dr Firuza Parikh, Anupama and Vidhu Vinod Chopra with their children and Farah Khan and her kids. Pic/Bipin Kokate
Speaker after speaker, be it Dr Tarang Gianchandani, CEO of the hospital, to the aforementioned Bollywood celebs, to a convection of kids from across the country who'd been born through her intervention, rose up to thank the quiet, modest lady, along with the philanthropic Kewalram Chanrai family which founded the hospital, and in particular its daughter Managing Trustee, Kenta Masand.
Parikh on her part had the audience in splits revealing how Farah Khan, the proud mother of triplets 'disregarded every advice for bed rest; Aamir and Kiran courageously set aside the advice of many to share the circumstances of their son's birth.' "'We have never told a lie about anything in our lives,' Aamir said softly but firmly," narrated Parikh. "And that was that. It gave so much of confidence and hope to other childless couples."
But of all the gems emerging from that sunny Independence Day gathering at the rooftop of the Trident, this one from young Zuni Chopra, poet daughter of Vidhu Vinod and Anupama captured the sentiment. "If kindness were a contagion, Firuza Aunty is a walking epidemic!"she said.
Daddy dearest
Tusshar Kapoor is a revelation. Wan, soft-spoken and dreamy, India's most high-profile, single, surrogate dad spoke candidly about the process that led to this jubilant condition following the recent the birth of his son Laksshya.
"When the time came to discuss how and what I should tell the world, my family advised me to let people know on their own. Someone can tell someone, who can tell someone," he smiled, referring to the old Indian custom. "It was doctors Firuza and husband Rajesh Parikh who said, 'It's your truth; you have a right to share it with others,'" continued Kapoor.
"So, even though I worried that perhaps my sharing would not be received well — would open up a Pandora's box — I am so happy I did," said the young father. "The response from India — the real India — has been so positive. I could not have asked for more."
The spirit of Gandhi
A delightful nugget about the making of Richard Attenborough's classic 'Gandhi' which was shown on TV on the occasion of Independence Day yesterday. A lady close to the key crew and cast recalls of how adhering to international filming requirements had resulted in a piquant situation during its shoot in Mumbai.
A scene from the film Gandhi
"The entire cast and crew from top down were given similar rooms at the Taj. This included very humble tailors and junior artists who all insisted on sleeping on the floor as they were uncomfortable on those giant beds," she recalled, even as the film unspooled on the TV screen.
"Was it adherence to international filming requirements or the spirit of Gandhi that prompted this egalitarianism?" responded a much younger member of her audience. "After all, other international crews are notorious for their segregation across the board Dadi Ma."
A happy dog story
And in a bleak season, a ray of sunshine. A lost and found dog story to warm hearts. Fans of Skye, the rescued stray belonging to dashing golf champion and accountant Rahul Diwan and his two adorable daughters Leah and Shai, had a harrowing few hours along with the Diwans when she disappeared over the weekend in Alibaug.
Skye the Indian Dogue
News of the disappearance of the sartorially forward Skye (whose various outfits in skirts, ties, ski gear and dinner jackets, the brainchild of 13-year-old Shai seen on Indian Dogue )had been posted on social media and shared no less than 154 times. 'Skye has wandered off in the Chondi area this morning. She is brown and white and is wearing a pink collar with a blue tag. Please help find her,' it read.
Nine hours later there was a collective sigh of relief when the much-loved pooch was found. "Thank you all for your help, support and words of encouragement," posted Papa Diwan. "It's super to know what stellar friends I have."
The God of small things must have been listening. Or even the dog of little things.
Material girls
We kid thee not, this really transpired. This high-profile international NRI billionaire, whose popularity with the ladies has always been a topic of interest with the rumour mills and who has been linked to a slew of curvy sub continental divas, is supposed to have shocked listeners with this rather brutal revelation recently.
"Oh, she's worth a few Gucci outfits," he is reported to have said to a confidante about a certain winsome number rumoured to be his newest trophy GF. "And as for her — a couple of Birkins and a ski trip." Confessions of a Material Man and his Material Girls? Well certainly not the price of onions, we think.
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