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Page 8

Ajay-Kajol celebrate wedding

KARAN BECOMES anniversary in Jodhpur with
bhaang sweets!
DAD TO TWINS

Prathamesh Bandekar
Karan
Johar
THROUGH SURROGACY
Debarati.Sen@timesgroup.com were born, said, “I am very happy for Karan. He
has said everything in his beautifully written
n Sunday morning, Karan Johar re- statement that is already viral online.” Shah Kajol and

O leased a statement confirming the birth

of his twins – a boy and a girl – through
surrogacy.
Rukh Khan and Gauri ’s third child AbRam and
Sohail Khan and Seema’s second child, Yohan
were also born under Dr Shah’s guidance.
Ajay Devgn

He wrote, “I am ecstatic to share with you all
the two most wonderful additions to my life,
my children and lifelines; Roohi and Yash. I
feel enormously blessed to be a parent to these
pieces of my heart who were welcomed into
this world with the help of the marvels of med-
ical science. This was an emotional yet well
thought out decision which I have taken after
considering all the responsibilities and duties
that come with being a parent. In order to ar-
rive at this decision, I have prepared myself
mentally, physically, emotionally and logisti-
cally to ensure that my children get all the un-
conditional love, care and attention from me
and mine. I have submitted to the fact that my
children are my world and priority. My work,
travels and social commitments would have to
take a back seat and I am prepared for that. By
the grace of God, I have the most caring and
supportive mother who will be an integral part
in the up-bringing of her grandchildren and of
course, friends who are family. I am eternally
grateful to the surrogate who has fulfilled my
lifelong dream and provided a warm, loving
I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO THE and nurturing environment to my children be-
SURROGATE WHO HAS FULFILLED MY fore bringing them into this world. She will al-
ways remain in my prayers.”
LIFELONG DREAM AND PROVIDED A WARM, LATEST BOLLYWOOD PERSONALITY TO
LOVING AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT TO TAKE THE SURROGACY ROUTE
Surrogacy is not new in our country, but with
MY CHILDREN BEFORE BRINGING THEM INTO KJo fathering twins, single fatherhood via ges-
tational surrogacy has come into the limelight
THIS WORLD. SHE WILL ALWAYS yet again. Last year, it was Tusshar Kapoor who
had a son via surrogacy.
REMAIN IN MY PRAYERS Dr Jatin Shah, the in-vitro fertilisation and
intracytoplasmic sperm injection specialist un-
der whose guidance and support Yash and Roohi
BILL TO BAN SINGLE PARENTS
The Centre recently framed new guidelines re-
garding surrogacy. The draft of the Surrogacy
Regulation Bill was introduced in the Lok Sab-
ha in November 2016, and it recommends a ban
on surrogacy for commercial purposes and pro-
hibits women from taking payments to become
a surrogate mother. It also seeks a ban on sur-
rogacy for single parents and foreign nationals.
Lawyer Mrunalini Deshmukh says, “As of
now, the Indian Council of Medical Research
guidelines do not prohibit single parents from
having a child via a surrogate mother. There
is no such law on surrogacy till now. The no-
tification has, however, debarred import of an
embryo and foreign nationals to opt for sur-
rogacy.”
The government’s move to implement re-
strictions on surrogacy comes in the wake of it
thriving as an unregulated, rent-a-womb busi-
ness that exploits women. The proposed bill could
be a blow to this industry. Mrunalini adds, “Ex-
ploitation of the surrogate mother for commer-
cial gains is a valid concern of the government.”
THE PROCESS
In the case of a single father, gestational
surrogacy is planned with the father’s sperm
and a donor egg. In such cases, when regis-
tering the birth of the child, the name of
the mother is left blank. In case of a single
mother (in cases where she is medically un-
fit to carry the child), surrogacy is planned
with the mother’s egg and a donor sperm.
These are then fertilised and then trans-
ferred to the surrogate’s womb. In this case,
the father’s name is left blank in the birth
certificate.
Hiren.Kotwani@timesgroup.com
jay Devgn is known to be an intense actor on
A screen. But off it, he can be extremely
naughty with his unsuspecting colleagues
Ashwini Vyas and team members. For in-
stance, he pulled a fast one
on the sets of Baadshaho in
Jodhpur recently. His wife,
actress Kajol flew down to
celebrate their wedding an-
niversary a few days ago.
And Ajay decided to have a
celebration that will be hard
for his team to forget.
He ordered bhang-mixed
mithai for his team, the cast
and the crew members.
Sweet and bhang make a po-
tent combination – anything
sweet multiplies the intoxi-
cation effect of bhang. The
team of Baadshaho was nat-
urally ‘high’ on happiness
after they had the mithai on
his anniversary. Thankful-
ly, the party started after the
Ajay Devgn, Esha Deol day’s shoot was over, and
there was no shoot the
and Emraan Hashmi
are currently in morning after. So they put
Jaisalmer to shoot their feet up and enjoyed the
\for their film heady indulgence!

No official ban on Pak

KARAN WILL BE AN EXCELLENT Tusshar

artists: Bhatt on Shafqat

FATHER: TUSSHAR
Rachana.Dubey@timesgroup.com
mother, they say, is
not for you, they’re for your
child. Karan’s babies are
about a month old. It’s the
singing for his play
Today, when I have to step out,
A
Divya.Kaushik@timesgroup.com
fter last year’s Uri attack, the MNS had asked all Pakistani artists to
leave India. Since then, no artist from Pakistan has performed in In-
dia. Now, Mahesh Bhatt has approached singer Shafqat Amanat Ali
to sing for his upcoming play Milne Do, which will be staged in Delhi in June.
Sources say that Ali Zafar was also approached by Bhatt for the play. Though
Shafqat won’t come to India for the play, and will be recording in Pakistan,
I have to plan my day much in this is the first instance since the ban when a Pakistani artist will be a part
advance so that his timings

A born when she

conceives her baby in
the womb. A father is born
most overwhelming feeling to
have your children around
you.
and schedule are

much of his work as I can on

when he holds his little one How different is it to become a
for the first time in his arms. dad via surrogacy?
It’s a joy that neither can hide. Usually, as a couple, the woman
However, Karan Johar waited experiences changes in her
for an entire month before body and the man sees her
announcing to the world that belly grow gradually over nine
he has graduated from being months. That prepares him, in
a father figure to a real father. some way, for the life-changing
Blame it on the pressures of experience that he’s about to
being a celebrity. Thanks to have. But in cases like Karan’s
the progress in medical and mine, we didn’t really go
science and the concept of
through that. I can speak for
surrogacy, the filmmaker, myself. One day, when
who had expressed a desire to
Lakkshya came home, my life
adopt a few years ago, is now
changed. The doctors sent me
daddy to little Roohi and Yash
his pictures a few minutes
Johar. On the occasion, we
after he was born. I couldn’t
spoke to Tusshar, the first
believe what I saw. I couldn’t
believe that it was my
child. A part of my heart
was also scared because
babies look swollen
when they’re born. And
MY ONLY ADVICE TO I didn’t know that.
When he was brought
KARAN IS, HE SHOULD home, I saw the swelling
had subsided a bit and
GO WITH THE FLOW. that was a relief.
THERE ARE NO Lakkshya is now nine
months old. Are you
FORMULAS FOR BEING ready to step out and
A FATHER. TRUST work?
I’m working on
YOUR PATERNAL changing the cycle of
my days, once again. I
INSTINCTS. THEY’LL wake up earlier than
usual. I try finishing as
NEVER MISGUIDE YOU much of my chores
— Tusshar relating to Lakkshya as
soon as I can. I ensure I
single daddy of Bollywood, on balance my time between him,
what it means to be the sole my family and my work. I’m
parent and how it changes preparing myself to be away
your life. Excerpts: for longer hours. It’s more
You woke up to the news of mental than physical
Karan becoming a father…
preparation. I’ll be shooting
Golmaal Again and probably,
(Cuts in) Isn’t that great news?
It put a huge smile on my face.
whenever I can, I’ll take him on
the set. I can only be away from
I’m very happy for him. I
my son for that long. He’s the
know what he must be feeling
focus of my life.
right now. Doubly so. It’s a
different kind of happiness. It Has becoming a dad changed
fills you with confidence. you?
Being a single parent teaches Yes. When Lakkshya came
you time management and in a home, I just put him in his cot
matter of minutes, you and sat next to it for the entire
become so selfless because night. It was as if I was
your energies are suddenly guarding my greatest treasure.
not
disturbed. I ensure that I do as
my own, though I do have a
dedicated help and my family
to support me. My food, sleep,
work-out and professional
assignments revolve around
Lakkshya’s routines.
Karan mentioned that his mother
Hiroo Johar will play a crucial
role in raising the babies. How
supportive was your family
when you decided to take the
route?
I was apprehensive. I wasn’t too
sure if my parents, who I
thought were pretty
conservative, would accept my
decision. I told my mother
(Shobha) first. To my surprise,
she was completely for it. She
stood by me and encouraged
me. When she told my dad
(Jeetendra), he was just as
gung-ho. So was Ekta. I had
immense emotional support at
home, right from the time I
started the procedures for
surrogacy. They held me
through it and even after
Lakkshya was born. That is a
must for anyone who decides
to go for something like this.
I’m glad Karan has Hiroo
aunty by his side.
Do you have a piece of advice
for Karan?
He’s the best multi-tasker I
know. He doesn’t need
advice actually. He juggles
so many things at once.
And Karan will be an
excellent father. He’s a
terrific son and a great
pal. He’s loving; he’s a
giver and a complete
family man, which is
evident even in his
movies. He cherishes and
values relationships. After
the relationship with his
parents, this will be the
closest to his heart. The only
thing I can tell him out of my
experience is that he should
go with the flow. There are no
formulas for being a father.
Trust your paternal
instincts. They’ll never
misguide you.
of an Indian project. Bhatt says that the play is on “cross border peace and
is an initiative to revive the cultural ties,” and will be staged in Delhi and
Mumbai in June.
THERE HAVE BEEN OFFERS FOR VARIOUS SHOWS AND
MOVIE SONGS FROM INDIA: SHAFQAT
Shafqat, who will sing a song for the play, tells us from Pakistan, “Bhatt saab
got in touch with me two weeks ago. The reason for saying yes to it is very
simple. It’s a project on peace. There are differences between the two coun-
tries which have caused a rift and that needs to be ironed out. This project is
a step in that direction. Due to my tight schedule, I won’t be travelling to In-
Shafqat
Mahesh
Amanat
Bhatt
Ali
dia and will be recording in Pakistan.” Shafqat adds that small steps taken
by both countries indicate a positive change. “The ban on Indian films has
been lifted in Pakistan and people here watched Kaabil, Raees and a couple
of other movies very enthusiastically. My song for Bhatt saab’s project is an-
other step in the direction of bringing things back to normal. I have also got
offers for shows and movies from India,” says Shafqat. “Artists are affected
by political conditions. We also have to keep in mind the security of not just
our teams, but also of our fans who come to watch our shows. One irrespon-
sible act by those who don’t want the cultural exchange to happen can jeop-
ardize the safety of thousands of people. I believe that breaking the cultural
bond will only cause more harm, as these exchanges are much needed for
people to move forward towards peace,” adds the singer.
Wishing Karan Johar INDIAN GOVERNMENT NEVER BANNED PAKISTANI ARTISTS,
WHY SHOULD WE?: MAHESH BHATT
on his new journey, Bhatt, who has always been against the ban on Pakistani artists in India, says
that it is high time that efforts were made to revive cultural ties. “The Indian
the actor, B-Town’s government never outlawed Pakistani nationals, so there is no official ban
on them. After the Uri attack, the relationship between the two countries took
first single dad via an extreme turn. As storytellers, we should bring people together and create
empathy, and that is what we are trying to do with this play. Iranian filmmaker
surrogacy, shares Asghar Farhadi, who recently won an Oscar, said a very important and brave
thing – ‘Dividing the world into the ‘us’ and ‘our enemies’ creates fear, a de-
his own experience ceitful justification for aggression and war’.”
YOU CAN’T HAVE PAKISTAN EXPORTING TERROR AND INDIA
IMPORTING THEIR TALENT: BJP SPOKESPERSON SHAINA
NC
Bhatt’s decision of roping in Shafqat has already invited criticism. BJP
spokesperson Shaina NC says, “Peace initiatives are a good idea, but when
cross-border terrorism continues to exist, we can’t have Pakistan exporting
terror and India importing their talent. There can’t be selective isolation –
cultural ties can’t be viewed in isolation while ignoring the rest.”
– With inputs from Ranjit.Kumar@timesgroup.com