Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 19, 2019)

Rumours that Arjun Rampal and partner Gabriella Demetriades had become parents started doing the rounds when the duo was spotted at a suburban hospital on Wednesday afternoon. The model-actress-designer’s parents flew in from South Africa earlier this week. Early on Thursday, the couple welcomed their son.

“Gabriella’s parents were at the hospital on Thursday morning, they left a little after noon, escorted by Arjun. His daughters, Mahikaa and Myra, were by their daddy’s side all day. Arjun’s friends will start visiting soon. Gabriella is expected to be discharged by Friday or Saturday,” informs a source close to the couple.

On Wednesday, Mirror had reached out to Arjun telling him we had heard that good news is on the way and that our prayers are with the two of them. He responded on Thursday, saying, “Thank you.”

In April this year, Arjun had posted a picture with a visibly pregnant Gabriella stating, “Blessed to have you and start all over again. Thank you baby for this baby.” In May, he hosted a baby shower for her at his Bandra residence where he had shifted since he parted with Mehr Jesia, after almost 20 years of marriage.

In an interview to Mirror (May 27) Arjun had revealed that he had met Gabriella through common friends. “It’s only been a year since we started dating and here we are. For keeps,” he had exulted.

Arjun’s Paltan director J P Dutta’s daughter Nidhi was among the first to congratulate him on Twitter. Speaking to us, she added, “Arjun gave me the news this morning. He’s over the moon. I’m so happy for him. Since Paltan, I have been very close to him and his family. So, it’s been a day of calling and congratulating each other. I will be visiting them today.”
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Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 24, 2018)

Arjun Rampal has joined the growing league of actors who’ve chosen to adopt stray animals instead of shop for them. The newest member of the Rampal family, Simba is an Indian stray dog, who is only a few weeks old.

The actor, who has been campaigning for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), tells mid-day, “The decision to adopt Simba was taken by my daughters, Mahikaa and Myra. We recently lost our bulldog, Gangster, and my children have been wanting to adopt a dog ever since. Simba was rescued from an Alibaug beach, where he was stranded.”

Rampal and his kids found out about the canine through a veterinarian, after the latter learned of it from another client. “He was rescued by someone who already owns several dogs, and hence couldn’t shelter another. When we heard of him, we wanted to bring him home.”

Prod the actor on why he chose the quirky name of Simba for the pet, and he says that it was the first to pop in his head when he heard about how the furry stray was spotted. “We were told that he was sitting like a little lion on the rocks, gazing away at the ocean. I was immediately reminded of the lion, Simba [fictional cartoon character from The Lion King],” Rampal says.

The actor hopes that his gesture will motivate others to also shelter strays. “It’s important for people to adopt strays and give them a home because many people are cruel to animals. Unfortunately, dogs become victims to their violence. Dogs are loving, and only need affection from us.”

Arjun Rampal on destiny, stardom, and his daughters who have him "wrapped around their fingers"
Deebashree Mohanty (TIMES LIFE; October 8, 2017)

Would you say you had a very filmi struggle story?
I haven't had an easy one for sure. And I am happy that way. If that journey was easy, you would end up being extremely ordinary. I know a lot of people who have it all right at the beginning or get stuck in a particular image and start believing in it. So, I am glad I have gone through this tough drill because there are a lot of good things that happen on the way.

A lot of things in your life happened due to one happy accident ­ getting spotted at a nightclub by Rohit Bal...
I don't think anything is an accident. I strongly believe in destiny; certain things are predestined. Now, when I look back at my modelling days and what it lead to, I feel as if I was made for the world of glamour and cinema.

Have you ever found it hard to continue with the struggle in B-town?
I am a bull. I don't give up. If I believe something can get better, I will give it my all. The industry has helped in making me stronger. A slew of misses can teach you a lot.

Your takeaway from the failures...
I would rather be hated for someone I am than be loved for somebody I am not. To be real and original, and not be lost, is the biggest life lesson. The other thing I have learnt the hard way is not to fly too high because eventually you will fall. How you rise in the industry is also important. If you have got to the top by stepping on someone or pulling someone down, remember that there is a possibility that you will meet them again. That meeting is not going to be very pleasant.

But sudden failure can hurt...
It can be very, very depressing. Every artiste is yearning for an opportunity to work, and when they die out, it's frustrating. I've also had a low phase. I remember walking into a room full of successful people and wondering why I don't have it. There was even a time when I thought all my movies were jinxed. Thankfully, those days are gone.

Do you feel insecure about being a part of ensemble films?
I don't get insecure about anything because I am confident and smart enough to choose the best role in any given film.

Do you like the fame that comes with your profession?
I love it. That's why I am here. I love people's adulation. In fact, I would be very embarrassed (and sad) if I walk around and no one recognizes me. But I want to be in the news for my work and not for being a regular handsome hunk! I don't crave for that kind of fame all the time.

What's the most disturbing thing about Bollywood?
The fact that we don't make world cinema. Why do we only have to think of territories? The other thing that irks me is the importance attached to whether a film will work or not. I don't think it can be calculated. They have to be made from the heart.

How do you deal with controversies regarding your marriage, link-ups...
I have stopped taking them to heart. Nothing irks me anymore. I just recognize the truth and reality of the situation and move on.

Do you think true friendship exists in Bollywood?
This is a close-knit industry, but if you are very giving, you often end up giving too much. Sometimes, you have to take a step back.

Do you indulge your daughters?
Yes I do and I don't feel guilty. My daughters know what to do exactly to get my attention. Like when they shop online, they come to me for the credit card. This is one moment when they have me around their little finger.

Are you a protective father?
My girls are like my buddies. Both of them have a good sense of humour. I think this new generation is very different from what we used to be as kids. My daughters are responsible too.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; August 17, 2017)

Arjun Rampal’s upcoming film Daddy is a biopic on Arun Gawli, in which the actor plays the title role. In reality, Arjun is an extremely protective father. Dad to daughters Mahikaa (15) and Myra (12), Arjun is an easy-going father. He admittedly doesn’t have any ground rules for his daughters. He allows them the freedom in the hope that they don’t choose to rebel at some point. Over a cup of coffee, Arjun opens up on life as a dad. Read on...

You have transformed your look completely for Daddy. How did your daughters react?
They were like, ‘No, no, not again’. I remember last time they really freaked out was when I shaved my head for Ra.One. And then when I did this for Daddy, they asked me why I always do this. But again, I think they know by now that their father does this kind of stuff and they also admire that. They are getting old enough to understand that I go to this level and they like it.

As a father, did you restrict them from watching your films?
No. Whatever they want to watch, they will watch. Even today, if they don’t like any film of mine, they won’t watch it. It’s entirely their decision. I can’t be a parent who forces things on my kids. My children are my friends. You should not instill fear in them because that creates a gap in relationships. And that has become an easy thing to do today because there are so many other distractions in the form of WhatsApp, social media and what not. It takes up half your day and I see people spending so much time looking down at their phones that their necks have bent. It’s just ridiculous. The best that we can do is to not give them any fear, don’t make rules and spend time with them as friends so that they can feel secure and share everything with you.

How do you make sure that they remain unaffected by whatever is written about you?
Social media is a part of your life right now. If people want to talk about things, they do. I don’t care. People who are close to you — your kids, you wife, your family — they just know the truth. I just read a few days ago that I’m going to meet Al Capone’s family (laughs). So what do you do? You take it with a pinch of salt and move on. It doesn’t influence anyone forever. Today, you are the news, tomorrow someone else will take up that space. We all are moving targets. News is sensationalised, but now sensationalism is also boring for the audience. You cannot think children today are stupid. They are very smart, they know everything that’s happening around. My kids don’t gossip at all. In fact, this new generation, I feel, hates gossip and that’s what I love about them. They are very, very positive and into their own scene, whatever it may be. They are into sports, games, reading or just information.

How protective are you as a father?
That’s a natural instinct. Any parent is protective of their kids. Obviously I am, too. When you have kids, you will be protective about your children just like your parents are protective about you. I just met Suhana and Aryan (Shah Rukh Khan’s children) on a flight recently. They have both grown up and are so beautiful. They have wonderful manners and are so polite. That shows your upbringing. That reflects how your parents are. These things that come and go, shouldn’t bother them. Which is why, like I said, you need to talk to them as a friend and make them feel secure. So that they feel solid and it doesn't affect their personalities.

Have you kept that space open where you can talk to them about their personal life?
Of course! That’s what I mean when I say that we are friends. There has to be space where they can talk to me about anything and everything. If you make rules or say that don't talk to boys, no guys at home, come home by this time, do this, don’t do that and so on, you will create a rebel there. The whole idea is that you also know that when someone said no to something, you wanted it the most. That’s human psyche. That's how kids, or young adults behave. It’s very difficult for people to digest a no. So I’m like, ‘Go try it. Find out for yourself.’

Anil Kapoor had said that his daughters’ friends become closer to him once they meet him. What about you — are you friends with Mahikaa and Myra's buddies?
Right now, they are really small. So, I will look like a giant to them (laughs). I think, slowly, as they get older, I will have a lot more interaction with their friends. And I would love to meet them, get to know them better. It’s always good to have that. It’s healthy.

Are they your personal critics?
They are not critics at all. I don’t remember them not liking any films of mine in the last two three years. They have watched most of my films that came.

Between you and Mehr, who says yes more often?
We both have our share of it. There are certain things, which they know I don’t like. I hate it when they sit with their phones and iPads at the dining table when the family is about to eat together. Mehr doesn't care about that and she does that with them. There are different things like that. But she’s definitely more hands-on than I am. I’m out most of the times because of my work.

If your daughters want to act in films, how would you react?
I would be totally comfortable with whatever they decide to do. I think Bollywood is a great industry and it’s a great profession. It requires a lot of dedication, hard work, education, study, self-discipline and you need to have all these qualities when you want to be part of an industry where you will be creating a body of work that you will leave eventually.

Have they ever expressed their desire to do films?
They are again, too young. But the elder one (Mahikaa) is into theatre. She likes it a lot. And the younger one (Myra) is a full-on drama queen. I’m sure she will join the industry. It is also because when you see your parents doing something ever since you are born, you certainly have an inclination towards their profession. But even if they choose to do something else, Mehr and I will support them.

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; November 27, 2016)