Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; June 20, 2020)

Tusshar is known to be a hands-on father to his four-year-old son Laksshya, and the Coronavirus lockdown phase that went by gave him a lot of time to spend with his son. With Father’s Day coming up tomorrow, we asked Tusshar what the father-son duo is planning for the special occasion. He said, “Laksshya knows everyone’s birthday in the family and the household staff, but he has no concept of Father’s Day yet. I guess, tomorrow I will tell him about it, and we will play at home and probably go to the park.”

Single parenting can be tough, but Tusshar says that they function like any other family. “We are just like any other family, I don’t think I have more challenges only because I am a single parent. Couples also have to take up a lot of responsibilities. Often, fathers are not at all involved in parenting or maybe both parents are busy. There are many adjustments, compromises and sacrifices that couples, as parents, have to navigate. As a single parent, too, some things are hard and some things become fairly easy. Sab kuch balance ho jata hai,” he shares.

Like Tusshar, sister Ekta Kapoor, too, is a single parent to her one-and-a-half-year-old son, Ravie. The actor says that they both have distinct styles of parenting. “Ekta has her own style of parenting and I have mine. We help, advise and guide each other. And we are glad that we both have children, who don’t have a huge age gap. It was really a coincidence, and we are happy about it,” he concludes.

Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 31, 2020)

The Coronavirus lockdown has been a bane for many, but for Jeetendra, the past couple of months have been an eye-opener. The veteran actor reveals this period has given him a chance to see his children, both single parents, Ekta and Tusshar Kapoor’s parenting skills up close and realise his failings as a father.

“When my children were young, I was busy shooting in three shifts a day, running here and there, travelling. In our times we used to be very insecure, we used to do a lot of movies all at once, so there was hardly any time for the children which I feel very bad about today. It was a way of life and my family understood,” shares Jeetendra.

The actor, lauding how Tusshar and Ekta are raising their kids — Laksshya (three) and Ravie (one), respectively, says, “Now, especially during the lockdown, when I watch them and how they’re devoting time to their children, I realise they are wonderful parents despite being single parents. I feel I was such a bad father. I am 79 and learning so much from them.”

Jeetendra says he is thankful to his children for giving him the opportunity to spend such a lovely time with their kids. “I’m reliving my childhood through my grandchildren. I don’t remember doing the kind of masti, which I do with my grandchildren, with my kids when they were young,” adds the actor, who returned to the screen with a cameo in a recent web series, Baarish 2.

In fact, Jeetendra says the lockdown has hardly affected his schedule. “I anyway never went to our production office. I am into construction but it is more like a liaison job. But there is one problem I face, and that is the fact that my friends can’t meet me,” he shares.

However, the actor’s family doesn’t let him feel lonely. “That is compensated by my children and grandchildren as they are around all the time. I am enjoying every moment of it,” he says.

Producer Ekta Kapoor on how she incorporated her personal experiences as a single parent while creating Mentalhood
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; March 7, 2020)

A little over a year after welcoming son Ravie into her life via surrogacy, Ekta Kapoor is gearing up to reflect the hardships mothers face while raising children with her latest offering, Mentalhood. Considering actor-brother Tusshar is also a single parent to Laksshya, the producer says that their personal experiences served as fodder for the Karisma Kapoor starrer.

"The best part about being a single parent is that [I] have the ability to teach [my] child, at a young age itself, that there are no fairytales. I have the toughest job of telling my child that he has been born via surrogacy. I have [showcased] this in the series too. By doing so, I will give him the biggest gift because I won't be feeding him with sweet [stories] and then sending him into a bitter world," says Ekta.

Pointing out that Dino Morea's character is inspired by that of Tusshar, she adds that a single parent has the additional responsibility of making certain that his child doesn't feel the absence of the other parent. "[He must be told that he] has one parent, who can love him enough to suffice for two," she says, adding that the March 11 release is as much an ode to mothers as it is to daughters. "It discusses how people are quick to judge a parent based on his/her relationship with the child. I started off dedicating this show to my mother, but ended up dedicating it to my son as well."

While telling the stories of six different mothers, the makers and cast members drew from their personal lives to ensure this show hits closer to home for viewers. "A simple aspect like showcasing Karisma's children as late risers, was inspired from Karisma and Ekta's childhood. Shruti Seth's character is shown to believe in alternative medicine, which is inspired by Karisma's mother's behaviour," says a source.

Ekta Kapoor on why she is determined to not let her Padma Shri win get to her head and how her soaps of the early 2000s gave Indian women a voice
Anjana Vaswani (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 18, 2020)

“Life happened to me, I think,” says Ekta Kapoor, reflecting on her showbiz journey almost a month after she received the Padma Shri, the nation’s fourth highest civilian award. An incredible validation on all counts, the honour assumes special significance for Ekta. For her, praise for churning out massively successful small screen productions, since she was but a teenager, has been peppered with a generous dose of criticism. More than once, it has crossed over to her personal choices.

In January last year, the TV czarina-filmmaker welcomed son Ravie, born via surrogacy, as a single mother—a decision that raised eyebrows. “But now I meet so many young women who say their parents feel it’s okay that they aren’t married and point to me as an example. It makes me very happy, because, in this country, the pressure to conform—particularly on girls—is so high,” she notes, adding, “Even I feel it.”

She goes on to share that she has been often asked, ‘When will you settle down?’ “Which is odd, because I feel I’m very settled. But such questions are raised. And, if people can find strength by looking at my life, then I’m delighted,” Ekta says, adding that she was told she’d have to re-organise priorities when she became a mother. “But I don’t see it that way. I love my job, and if I stop, I’ll regret it later and blame my son—when he never asked me to give anything up.”

The defiant streak has also driven some of Ekta’s key career decisions. By her own admission, she had received a lot of criticism for her daily soaps. She acknowledges that those shows—like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kkusum, which catapulted her company to success in the 2000s—were heavily stylised and melodramatic. “But they actually gave Indian women a voice,” she argues. “There’s research that shows that after cable penetration, from about 2001 to 2005, which is when my shows ran, India, for the first time, saw women take decisions on family issues. This had never happened before, and it was directly linked to the fact that we made the women in our shows do this.”

At the same time, she concedes that some things could have been done differently. “There was a song in Kkusum, for instance, called 'Beti ke Roop Mein Beta Mila'. In hindsight, the very idea that a bread-winning woman should be compared to a man reeks of patriarchy, but at that time, we were fighting a different war: We wanted to gain acceptance for the idea that it’s fine for girls to support their parents financially,” she informs.

With two decades of experience, Ekta knows what she needs to do to avoid the pitfalls of film-making. But parenting is a whole new ballgame, and it helps to have a strong support system, she points out, talking about the guilt that’s every mother’s burden. “My brother Tusshar is amazing,” she says. “He is a fantastic father to his son, and never hesitates to include my son in his plans. And he always has good advice to offer, whether it’s about parenting apps or how to teach Ravie to walk.”

And while she loves exploring new themes and formats at work, her at-home persona is far less adventurous. “My family calls me Velcro because I hate shifting from any place I am comfortable in,” she says. Her bedroom may still be the same shade of yellow it was when she was 15, but Kapoor says she’s certainly not the same person. “I’m a lot stronger, and I think I’m a better person, and I have prayer to thank for that. Otherwise, it’s quite a lot for a 20-year-old to read articles saying, ‘You’ve arrived’ and three years later, articles that say, ‘You’re finished’.” Which is why, while being cognizant of the tremendous honour that comes with a Padma Shri title, Ekta is determined to not let it get to her head. “The people who put you on a pedestal can be as quick to pull you off. So, I don’t want to be on a pedestal. I just want to be heard.”

Ekta Kapoor tells us how she has set up a crèche at her office so that working mothers can be around their babies
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 28, 2019)

Producer Ekta Kapoor recently introduced the world to her son, Ravie, whom she had through surrogacy. In an exclusive chat with BT recently, she spoke about balancing motherhood and her work commitments.

Ekta says, “Currently, life is all about spending as much time as possible with my son. These days, I try and leave the office earlier than usual.” She also tells us that she regrets not setting up a creche in her office, earlier. “I bring Ravie to the office frequently and he spends time with my team. I have a huge support system in my mother and my team, so whenever I get busy with meetings, they keep him entertained. He is only three months old, but he has made friends with my colleagues and it may sound unrealistic, but he recognizes people at work. That is one of the reasons I have set up a crèche in my office. Even when my son grows older, the creche will continue, because it is important for working mothers to be around their babies. In fact, I should have built it in my office a long time ago. I regret not having done that earlier,” she shares.

Talking about work, it’s only natural for us to ask her about the naagins and ghosts in her shows, which are often criticised. But an unfazed Ekta hits back, saying, “What are the big shows that are working internationally, currently? People are watching dragons. It is uber cool for them to watch dragons, but when India watches naagins, it is not cool. Isn’t this anti-populist? Why do we look down on the masses and their choices?”

What about tracks dragging on TV shows and actors returning from the dead? Ekta replies, “Didn’t Jon Snow return from the dead? If you are not the audience, you will criticise, but then, that’s ringside play. Data proves that people are watching these shows because every time there is a kidnap, murder or a hero returns from the dead, there is a surge in ratings. It is an escapism for the Indian audience.”

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; February 3, 2019)

In his true nonchalant style, Tusshar beams, “Main toh sach mein mamu ban gaya.” He’s really happy for the fact that just like him, sister Ekta Kapoor has now become a parent and feels complete with her baby boy Ravie in her arms. It’s rare for younger siblings to pave the way for the older ones. The actor welcomed his son Lakkshya via surrogacy nearly three years ago and his elder sister followed suit. Speaking about the new Kapoor in the khandaan, mama Tusshar gets emotional about his sister’s decision and why he thinks she will be a perfect parent. Excerpts…

With the arrival of the latest member of the Kapoor clan (Ekta’s son) your entire family must be over the moon…
I’ve not spent much time with my nephew, but it’s a great feeling that Lakkshya will have a buddy right at home. Of course, it won’t be immediate because the baby is too small right now, but once he starts crawling and walking, the boys will have a lot of fun together. It’s almost the way Ekta and I grew up. It’s an exciting phase for us; we’ll be raising our kids together and there’s so much to learn from each other. I’m very happy for my sister, because the baby boy has completed our family. Ekta looks so happy. He’s brought unbridled joy to her life and it makes me emotional to just watch her with the baby.

It’s a coincidence, but Ravie was born a few days before your mother Shobhaa Kapoor turned 70.
Absolutely! There couldn’t have been better timing for this to happen. He’s arrived just in time and made his naani’s 70th birthday one of her most special ones by far. It’s a delight to see that my parents have their hands full with their grandchildren now.

How did Ekta react when she was given the news about her baby’s arrival?
She was very happy and we were extremely supportive of her decision. It was important for us that she should be ready for this step and she did it when she was fully prepared to take on the responsibility. After Lakkshya came into our lives, she watched me from close quarters. She’s seen my life and priorities change. While being a doting aunt to my son, she also gained the confidence to have a baby of her own. I feel I was the catalyst in her decision. Over the nine months, she always gave us updates about the progress of her child. We all knew what was going on and it wasn’t new to our household, because we went through the drill when I was becoming a father. But, it was still very special because here is another baby adding another dimension to us Kapoors. I mean, Ekta always had Lakkshya; woh uske apne bete jaisa hai, but she also needed someone of her own. Who after her? That was always a concern for us all. She’s given many years of her life to work and has built an empire of her own, but, aage kya? She also needed someone of her own to come home to. What better than coming home to your own baby?

As far as her career is concerned Ekta has always been a rule breaker and trend setter. By embracing motherhood via surrogacy, she’s also set an example for several single women, in this aspect too.
Yes, she’s definitely the first single woman in the entertainment fraternity in India to do this. I was probably the first male celebrity who did that and she had welcomed my decision with all her heart. However, neither Ekta, nor I can say that we were the first singles to become parents through surrogacy. But, we were definitely the first single celebs in India to do so. As a public figure, Ekta has set an example. She’s known to be daring and unconventional. She makes her own decisions and she makes them work for her. Only this time, it was a personal decision, something she did for her life and happiness. It’s one of the best choices she’s made for herself. With this, single women in the industry will also feel encouraged.

Karan Johar and you have become fathers via surrogacy. Do you feel the challenges of parenting are different for single men and women?
(Cuts in…) I have handled both the parents’ duties for the last two years and so will Ekta. There’s no difference here. Bringing up your child well is the most important thing. I feel, having a father and a mother and a complete family on paper is not as relevant as giving the child the right upbringing. Haven’t we all seen families where despite having a mom and dad, a child often feels neglected by either one or both of them? It’s about making the child feel wanted, loved and cared for; letting them know that they are special. Sometimes, when one parent is not fully involved and the other doesn’t know how to fill that void, it affects the way a child perceives the concept of family. As individuals, Ekta and I can play both roles because we have the ability to be protective, caring, sensitive and at times, stern. I’ve picked up more lessons in this regard; she’ll do it in due course. I think the way the whole nation accepted Lakkshya, Roohi and Yash, they will also accept Ravie and give him all the love he deserves. Ekta will get the same love that Karan and I have got as single parents.

With the news of her child’s arrival, do you foresee more speculation around Ekta tying the knot and settling down in the conventional sense?
It’s up to her, no? She will decide what she wants to do. Her life is complete. Now, whether she wants a partner or not, is for her to decide. It’s her prerogative, but I know that she doesn’t need anyone to complete her life. I don’t need anyone other than my son and my work to make me feel complete. It’s the same with her.

Lastly, what kind of advice have you given Ekta with respect to parenting?
I think the first thing she should do, which I feel she’s already done to a degree is, to throw out all the drama from her life and get rid of undue stress. That’s the reason she put out a social media post, informing everyone about the baby and how she got this far. That’s the first step. Setting priorities right will gradually happen. I don’t have any lessons to give her, because parenting is based on instincts which you pick up as you go along the way. The only thing we have to remember and believe is that our life will now centre around our kids and they will always be our top priority. You have to restructure everything according to their needs and happiness. Everything else will follow.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; February 2, 2019)

Two-and-a-half years ago, Tusshar became the first Bollywood actor to become a single father. He opted for surrogacy and welcomed Laksshya Kapoor, who he fondly calls ‘Laddoo’. The family now has another addition to the clan with the arrival of Ekta Kapoor’s baby boy, Ravie Kapoor.

Tusshar says, “It was completely Ekta’s decision. She had been thinking about this for quite some time. I have always supported her and I knew she would do it only when she was ready to have a child. I did it a few years ago when I was ready for this new phase.”

The doting brother believes that his son has been instrumental in helping Ekta take this major decision. “Laksshya loves his bua and Ekta enjoys being around him. So, I’m sure being with her nephew, she must have realised that maternal instinct within her,” he adds.

The Golmaal Again actor agrees that since he had already been through the process, he could be by her side. He says, “Ekta told me around a year ago about her desire to become a mother. We, as a family, knew about this. Our parents have always been supportive about everything — right from our careers to our personal choices. They are extremely Indian at heart but liberal, as well. Mom, dad, Laksshya and me — we all are happy. They have always wanted to be grandparents and now, there will be two kids at home, so it’s more enjoyable for them.”

It’s double the fun in the Kapoor household now as Laksshya, too, has turned bade bhaiyya. The actor reveals that his son is aware that there is a new member in the family. “He is so excited. He rushes into the baby’s nursery and checks on him at times. He keeps asking me, “Bhaiyya kahaan hai?” When the baby will become a year older, then I’m sure they will become partners in crime. Laksshya and Ravie will be more like buddies,” says the star.

Tusshar, who has now turned mamu to the little one, rues that he hasn’t been able to be with Ravie. “I’ve been shooting, so I haven’t spent quality time with the baby yet. But I’m going to do something special soon,” he signs off with a smile.

Pls send ur love and blessings for lil Ravie. ! JAI MATA DI JAI BALAJI pic.twitter.com/3SnL8iMsv2

— Ekta Kapoor (@ektaravikapoor) January 31, 2019

MUMBAI MIRROR (February 1, 2019)

TV czarina and filmmaker Ekta Kapoor welcomed a baby boy on Sunday, January 27, via surrogacy and relayed the happy news on social media on Thursday. “By God’s grace, I have seen many successes in my life, but nothing beats the feeling of this beautiful soul being added in my world. I cannot even begin to express how happy my baby’s birth has made me,” she shared on Instagram.

Admitting that she had been trying for a baby for the last seven years, Ekta added, “It is an emotional moment for me and my family and I can’t wait to begin this new journey of being a mother to my little bundle of joy, Ravie Kapoor.” The youngest member of the Kapoor family has been named after Ekta’s father Jeetendra’s real name.

Dr Nandita Palshetkar, who guided Ekta through the process, said, “Ekta came to me a few years ago and we tried to help her get pregnant with multiple cycles of IUI and IVF. But they were unsuccessful. After that, we sought help of the surrogacy technique which we performed at our IVF centre. Nine months later, she has achieved success with the birth of a child.”

A source close to the family revealed that the baby weighed three kg at birth and that Ekta had been keenly involved in the process, taking constant updates on the surrogate and the baby’s health at every stage from the doctor. “It was her pure determination to become a mother that made this happen,” the source added.

Ekta’s brother, actor Tusshar Kapoor, had also opted for surrogacy in 2016 to welcome son Laksshya. “Ekta is a family-oriented person and has been like a mother to my son. This marks the beginning of a new phase in her life, an exciting time of completeness and fulfilment,” Tusshar was quoted as saying.