By Subhash K. Jha
Brothers play an important role in the lives of Bollywood actresses. If for veteran actress Shabana Azmi her brother Baba is the most precious, new entrant Parineeti Chopra describes her two siblings as her buddies.
On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, which falls Aug 20, actresses share the kind of bonding they share with their brothers.
Shabana Azmi: My brother Baba is most precious to me. He is my son, my friend and guide. Raksha Bandhan is a festival I get most sentimental about. This year I am at my native village Mijwan for Raksha Bandhan. I feel really sorry that I can’t be personally present to tie him the raakhee. I make sure I am with Baba on this day. I missed being with my brother for Raksha Bandhan only four-five times in my entire life. Sadly, this is one of those years of absence. Baba is my most precious gift. I don’t need anything from him. He doesn’t allow anyone else to tie a raakhi on him. No ‘mooh-boli bahens’ for my brother! I wouldn’t tolerate them.
Parineeti Chopra: My brothers Sahaj and Shivang are my buddies ever since they grew up. I am the eldest. So I am going to be pampering and spoiling them this Raksha Bandhan.
Pooja Bhatt: I am older to my brother Rahul. So tradition be damned. I’ll be gifting him this Raksha Bandhan, not the other way around.
Manisha Koirala: I have the most precious gift in the world – my brother Siddhartha. I always wish him happiness and success, and not just for Raksha Bandhan but every single day. I consider myself the luckiest sister in the world. More power to my adorable brother.
Celina Jaitley: My brother Vikrant is a major in the Indian army. The only Raksha Bandhan wish I have for him is to be safe. And to have a little baby of his own soon as he’s newly married.
Bela Sehgal: I am very lucky to have a wonderful brother like Sanjay (Leela Bhansali). He is thoughtful, caring, loving, understanding and always concerned about my well-being. For Raksha Bandhan, I pray for his good health and the super-duper success of “Ram Leela”. The only gift that I want from him is that he should always continue to love me.
Divya Dutta: My brother, doctor Rahul Dutta is more a friend than an elder brother. And he knows exactly what I want. The other day I liked a piece of jewellery while window-shopping. Before I knew it, it became my Rakhi gift. He is travelling, but will be back in time for me tie the rakhi.
Minissha Lamba: My brother is the closest person I have in Mumbai. And just to have him around is gift enough on Raksha Bandhan.
Pooja Bedi: I deeply miss my brother Siddharth, who died 15 years ago. And I’m grateful for my brother Adam, who is 12 years younger to me. Being so much older, I don’t look at him in the traditional role of the protective brother. On the contrary, I feel, I need to protect him and take care of him. All I expect from him is some time to spend together and oodles of love.
