Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 5, 2018)

Filmmaker Mukesh Bhatt hosted a luncheon for his extended family at a Bandra restaurant to celebrate daughter Sakshi’s engagement with boyfriend Mazahir. The ceremony coincided with the birth anniversary of his mother Shirin Mohammad Ali as she was close to Sakshi.

“It is the biggest day of my life!” the father of the soon-to-be-bride exulted. “I am so emotional because my Cinderella has found her Prince Charming. They met through a common friend; Mazahir works in the digital space. I am happy that he has nothing to do with the film industry. He comes into the family like a whiff of fresh air. There are so many new things to talk about with him.” Quiz him on the wedding and he says the date hasn’t been finalised yet. “It will be towards the year-end or early next year.”

The four-hour luncheon which went on way past sun-down was attended by Mukesh and wife Nilima, son Vishesh with wife Kanika Parab, brother Mahesh with daughter Pooja, nephew Emraan Hashmi with wife Parveen and son Ayaan. Mukesh’s filmmaker-nephew Mohit Suri was also present but made an exit around 5 pm with actress-wife Udita Goswami. The filmmaker reveals that the engagement was not planned.

“It’s just a happy co-incidence that it coincided with my mother’s birthday. She lived with me till the day she passed away and was very fond of her granddaughter, Sakshi. It was like she wrote the screenplay of her life so her engagement would fall on her birthday,” Mukesh pointed out emotionally.