Was this a ‘real’ attack? How can someone get into a celeb’s house like that? Why would he need an autorickshaw? Did he really go with Taimur? What, there was a knife stuck in his back and he was still coherent? Arey, if he was injured so badly, how is he walking out like that from the hospital, waving?

Saif Ali Khan got support and sympathy, for sure, but as often happens with him, he got more than his fair share of questions, doubts and scrutiny even after fighting an intruder, getting stabbed, and undergoing extensive surgery. In his first interview after the attack, Saif thanks his well-wishers and also answers the cynics, in his trademark style – with a straight bat. Excerpts:

Kareena had been out to dinner, and I had some work in the morning, so I stayed in. She came back, we had a chat and went to sleep. After a while, the house help rushed in and said – ‘There’s an intruder! There’s a guy in Jeh’s room with a knife asking for money!’ It was around 2 am, I could get the time wrong slightly, but it was late...

Obviously, I kind of lost it, and went in there to see and I saw this guy holding (what I thought were) two sticks over Jeh’s bed – it was actually a hexa blade. So he had a knife in each hand and a mask on. It was a surreal scene. And something just kind of took over and I just grabbed him. I ran and pulled him down, and then we were wrestling. He was thumping me as hard as he could in my back, and it was just thuds. I thought it was...

I didn’t. It didn’t really hurt because there’s too much of adrenaline and shock at that moment. And then he was slashing at my neck, and I was blocking it with my hand. There were slashes to my palm and my wrist and arm. There was all this violence – slashing with both hands, most of which was kind of defended. And yeah, I fought with him, but I couldn’t handle it after a while because there were these two knives in action. And I was just barefoot, bare-handed in a kurta pajama.

And I was just praying that someone could get this guy off me at this point. And my incredibly lovely house help (Geeta) pulled him off me and shoved him away. And we both kind of rolled away, and closed the door. And at this point I was covered in blood, and I lost some feeling in my right leg. This was because I had been nicked in the spine, but I didn’t realize that at the time – I thought I’d been stabbed in the leg. I went upstairs to try and find something to fight this guy. Kareena, in the meantime, had taken Jeh out and gone to Tim’s room.

Yes. While this fight happened, Jeh was taken out. I remember Kareena screaming ‘Take the kid out!’

He had woken up, and seen some of it. I don’t know, you know because I was busy (laughs). And then we all gathered upstairs.

Geeta had held the door shut from outside – so we thought he was locked inside. But he escaped the way he came – though we didn’t know that. He had gone the way he came in – which was up a drainpipe into the kids’ bathroom. I don’t think he knew where he was.

And we all headed downstairs. It was a filmi scene where I was covered in blood and we took two decorative swords off the wall. And that’s what Taimur saw – me covered in blood and Hari, the other house help, holding two swords. So, it was vaguely heroic, at least that moment (laughs). We said – ‘let’s get him’. And Kareena said – ‘No, let’s get out! Because we’ve got to get you to a hospital, and I’ve got to get Jeh out of here because I feel he’s (the intruder) still around, and there could be more of them.’

So then we all went downstairs. Kareena was shouting for a rickshaw, or a cab, or anything. I said, I kind of feel some pain. There’s something wrong with my back. She said – you go to the hospital and I’ll go to my sister’s house. She was making calls frantically – but nobody was up. And we looked at each other, and I said, ‘I’m fine. I’m not going to die.’ And Taimur also asked me – ‘Are you going to die?’ I said, ‘No.’

He was absolutely composed. He was fine. He said, ‘I’m coming with you.’ And I thought, if something happens... I was getting a lot of comfort just from looking at him at that time. And I didn’t want to go alone.

My wife sent him knowing what he would do for me. Maybe it wasn’t... at the moment, it was the right thing to do. I felt good about it. And I also thought, if God forbid, something happens, I’d like for him to be there. And he wanted to be there also. So, we went – him, me and Hari – in the rickshaw.

The rickshaw guy saw the blood and he knew something had happened. But I think because of the kid, he kind of gave the whole thing some respectability. He saw that we were decent people, somehow. I don’t know how. And he was so amazing – he took a shortcut and took it easy on bumps. He drove me to Lilavati.

Yes! (Laughs) We just walked into that emergency room. I’ve been there before a couple of times, so I knew my way around. It took them a minute to understand that there’s a celebrity involved and this is a slightly bizarre, absurd scenario. Just took a minute to sink in, you know, that a movie star has been stabbed.

I had a lot of clarity and adrenaline. They brought a wheelchair and I said, no, I don’t think a wheelchair is good idea, get me a stretcher. And I pointed at my face and said – ‘I’m Saif Ali Khan’ (laughs). They did a double take – and then all hell broke loose.

They were very efficient after that. There was a doctor on duty in his blue scrubs and he took some right decisions. Then the head of the hospital came. I really wanted to go to the loo and they said, we’ll give you a catheter. I said, no, no, I’ll walk. They couldn’t believe that I could walk, because they had had a look at the back by then.

Then they said, we have to do an MRI. They looked at my hands, my neck and said it’s all slashed up, but the back is the main issue. So they did the MRI, and somebody took the right call and said, let’s call a spinal neurosurgeon. That was a great move. Dr Dange (Dr Nitin Dange), who had just gone to bed at 2 am or something – somebody rang him up, and he rushed to the hospital.

They said a good three-four inches of the knife has gone in behind the shoulder blade and has worked its way right to the bloody spinal cord. It’s a massive stab and it’s broken off, and it’s nicked the cover of the spinal cord. And there’s spinal fluid leaking out, which is why the feeling in the leg was going. That’s how close it came: Just one more millimetre and we’d be talking paralysis. It’s not like, you know, a back spasm or something that we’re underplaying.

And the doctors did a phenomenal job. It was a major surgery. It took six hours – the spinal thing alone took 2.5 hours. I was under anesthesia for like five hours or something. It’s pretty big, that’s the longest I’ve ever been in a surgery.

They didn’t tell me initially. They said – there is a foreign body in your back, and we need to get rid of that. I could walk and everything. So I didn’t think it’s very serious.

Then later on, the doctor told me in instalments. He said, ‘Listen, you have lost spinal fluid.’ And there’s still some numbness in my thigh. And two days later, he told me why. He said, ‘I’ve moved all your nerves around.’ It’s been an incredible, like pain-free recovery apart from some muscular ache, which I’m still experiencing.

Close is close. You’re either paralyzed or you’re not. That’s how life is, right? I mean – you’re either hurt or not hurt. There’s 25 stitches here and there’s 30 stitches there. If you start with the two slashes on my palm and my arm – they had both not even cut a tendon. They could have cut the artery and the wrist and the veins, they could have cut... It’s just a miracle that my hands and my fingers are working fine. A guy cuts himself in the palm in the kitchen and then he can’t move his little finger for the rest of his life, you know.

So that’s a miracle. I have like 30 most awful scars running down my neck. I don’t understand how he missed my carotid artery and jugular vein… it’s not possible to cut somebody’s neck the way my neck is cut, and not kill them.

Yes, the question was what was he doing for 1.5 hours with a knife in his back? Absolutely not. I went downstairs and out. The first rickshaw was me going to a hospital, and then these guys went to Karisma’s house. There was no lag.

Nobody stays here all night. Everyone has a home to go to. We have some people staying in the house, but not the drivers. Unless you are going out at night or there’s something needed, then you tell them to stay on.

I would have driven if I could have found the keys. Luckily, I didn’t. I probably should not have wiggled my back much. I’d have driven. I was completely lucid.

But he could have taken time to come, na? I knew I had to go to the hospital pretty soon.

I think it is expected that there will be all kinds of reactions to something like this. There will be people ridiculing it. There will be people not believing it, people making fun of it. And I think that’s fine because it is what gives colour to the world. If everyone had a sympathetic reaction to something, it would be flat and dull. And I expected it, then there is no need to react to it.

And the thing that became clear to me is that there is so much kindness also in the world. There’s so many wonderful people who know how to make you feel better by saying supportive things. From the ward boys and the doctors to the rickshaw driver, they were all just angels, heaven-sent. There is a lot of kindness in the world and a fair amount of stupidity also. But that’s what makes it interesting.

It’s beyond. I don’t know what it is. It feels like incredibly lucky. A friend of mine said – ‘Let’s say, you were forced to roll a deadly dice. And you rolled a six.’ I think that’s a good way of putting it because I didn’t want to roll this dice. But it’s like you roll any other number and you’re dead.

The instinct was that I’d like to walk out of the hospital. I had walked in also, and I’d like to walk out on my own, and it wasn’t to show off or anything. It was just not to be alarmist and like my father (used to say) –‘let’s just kind of underplay it a bit’.

I never thought about how to present it. The more I consider the PR aspect of it, I’ve come to the conclusion that I think my life is pretty interesting for actually what it is, it doesn’t need a twist. It doesn’t need to be twisted and presented.

So, my thing is that it’s not an exaggerated injury. It’s a miraculous survival. Walking around after that, it’s still painful to stand for too long. The aches and pains are there, but they’re getting better every day. And I think it will be a complete recovery.

The kids are okay, thank God. Jeh has given me a plastic sword, and said, ‘Keep this by your bed for the next time the chor comes’. He says, ‘Geeta saved Abba and Abba saved me.’

Taimur is a little concerned about security. Sara was very emotional and Ibrahim was also very emotional, more than he obviously normally is. He was there and has been spending a lot of time with me. It’s been really kind of nice for the family to come together (laughs), but also obviously, a bit of a shock for everyone.

She’s doing very, very well. Being very strong. Naturally, a bit shaken and concerned about things like security and that something like this should not happen again.

I’ve never believed in security. People were saying, ‘Why don’t they have more security?’ I’ve never believed in security. I don’t want it. I never wanted to walk around with three of these guys. I think it would be a nightmare for me. And I still won’t, because I don’t think this is an attack on me. I’m not under threat.

None of us are under any kind of threat. This is a mistake that happened. I firmly believe a guy climbed up a drainpipe and squeezed through a hole and arrived in our house. I don’t think he knew whose house it was. It’s not an inside job. It’s none of these things. And the police have done a fantastic job.

I feel very safe in Mumbai. I think it’s a completely safe city, but yeah, we hear about stuff like this. Like in every other place in the world, whether it’s New York or London or Paris, you have to lock the doors properly and you’ve got to lock the windows. You can’t tempt fate. You can’t leave stuff open. I mean, it’s not some village in Switzerland.

No. It’s not going to change my life and it shouldn’t, because that would be... it would be wrong because, I mean, this is not one of those scenarios. This is somebody who is trying to steal something because of desperation.

Taimur said that he should be forgiven because he believed that the guy was hungry. I also believe I would have forgiven him. I feel bad for him – till where that knife comes in and my spine comes in and the fact that he tried to kill me (laughs). That’s where I stopped feeling bad for him. I understand why he did it. But he crossed the line when he went mad on me.

I don’t blame society and I don’t blame the police or Mumbai or anything. I blame myself for not locking that area properly. But I didn’t believe this would happen. I didn’t believe that this kind of thing would happen to us. This could have gone anywhere.

It’s the best possible outcome – apart from not getting stabbed at all (laughs). I used to have a gun also. Luckily, I don’t have that. I don’t know what would have happened.

I didn’t believe in that anymore. I thought some kid will get hold of it, and then there’ll be other problems.

I mean there are guns around at Pataudi. All the people who have guns – Rajwaras and the Rajasthanis – have been messaging me that they can’t believe that guy got away with it.

My father used to sleep with a shotgun by his bed. But sometimes, I believe accidents happen because there was a gun. Young kids would definitely play with it or God knows what can happen.

No, there are no weapons. There are some talvars which are ceremonial and decorative. Some people are now like, you should have protection with you at all times. The world is not safe. Sleep with a gun.

I don’t think so. Nothing will change. See, if you start doing that... because I don’t feel I’m under threat. It was not a premeditated attack. I think it just was a burglary attempt gone wrong. That poor guy, his life is more screwed than mine.

I would put on the light and firstly tell him, ‘Do you know who I am?’ (Laughs) And I think he would say, ‘Oh shit! I’m in the wrong house.’ And I’d say ‘Right, put the knife down and let’s talk about this’. I think I would have tried to reason. But it was a mixture of anger, outrage and a kind of defense. I don’t know. It was just... it was too quick. And it was completely instinctive.

I’ll tell you something funny – when we were fighting, I hit him as hard as I could with my bare hand on the back of the head. And I thought to myself – that is the most ineffectual punch in the history of punches. This guy is gonna kill me because (he has) a weapon – two knives – and (I’m) a barefooted, bare-handed man. I mean unless it’s a good movie, there is just no contest there.

(Laughs) Well, no, she was firstly, very supportive about Taimur being there. I thought she’d be more annoyed about that. But she said – ‘No, what you thought was right and you’ve exposed him in such a different way to so many things’ – that I mean he’s a different kind of kid.

She also completely understood the protective parental instinct. I remember her telling me when I was young that ‘I’ll get in the way if someone ever tries to hurt you’. It had an impact on me. So I guess it’s every parent’s instinct.

And she was very protective. The doctors were worried that there shouldn’t be any secondary infection. So she was making sure everyone wore a mask, including the doctors. So there was a bit of fear of the mother (laughs). She was also very nice. She held my hand and sang me a song, and it was very soothing.

I can’t remember. It was a lullaby. That hasn’t happened since I was a baby!

With her body of work and years of experience, legendary actor Sharmila Tagore has many stories to tell. While her daughter, Soha Ali Khan, has penned The Perils of Being Moderately Famous and co-written a series of children’s books with actor-husband Kunal Kemmu, Tagore has never had a biography to her name. Interestingly, Soha has often expressed a desire to write her mother’s biography.

When asked, Tagore reveals that she has often thought about writing it, but lacks the discipline. “It is not just about thinking; it is putting pen to paper and writing it,” she says, adding that she needs to find time to focus on it. “I am doing so many things besides shooting [the few] films. So, I have to find the discipline to sit at my desk and write every day. Right now, it’s all in my head, not on paper. Next year, I have 100 per cent intention to write.”

Her extensive filmography of about 100 films, two National Awards, her connection to poet Rabindranath Tagore’s family, her marriage to the late Nawab of Pataudi Mansoor Ali Khan, her children—Saif Ali Khan, Soha, Saba Ali Khan—and grandchildren are bound to make for an engrossing book.

When asked if she has any regrets in life, Tagore admits she always wanted to do more comedy films. “I was not happy with my performance in Chupke Chupke [1975]. It had too many mannerisms, but now I feel at ease. Dharmendra should have won the Best Actor award for Chupke Chupke, but [at that time] they didn’t consider comedy as ‘good acting’ or worth receiving an award. I was amazed that [he didn’t win]. Dharmendra was good, but I didn’t have his comic timing. Not that my role demanded it, but I would have loved to have done a nice comedy,” says Tagore.

Soha Ali Khan and husband Kunal Kemmu welcomed their daughter Inaaya in 2017. Post that, she was focused on her personal life and raising her daughter, and was seen in a few projects like Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 (2018) and in a couple of web shows last year. The actress and author says that now she’s ready to take up more acting assignments. In a conversation with us, Soha talks about her experience of working in a horror film and how she is glad that today there are more author-backed roles for actresses her age.

About her break and the kind of opportunities that are coming her way in this phase of her career, Soha says, “Today when I see good content that’s out there, I wish I could have been a part of some of it. Though there is great work, there’s a bit of a slowdown we are witnessing right now in the industry.”

Soha add, "Some corrections are happening. But overall, I am very excited by the fact that I am a woman in my 40s, who is being represented well on screen. I don’t feel any panic about the fact that there won’t be any work for me. There are a lot of roles for actresses my age and they are not clichéd ones, but meaty and author-backed roles.”

While she is longing to take up more acting projects, Soha is also focusing on her production venture with Kunal, which is a biopic on veteran lawyer Ram Jethmalani. She shares, “I want to do a lot more work. It’s just that I have been really enjoying being a parent. Now Inaaya is six and she is very independent. I enjoyed my work-life balance, but now I want to focus more on ‘work’ in the work-life balance process. My plate is full with acting and production work. We were lucky to get the life rights of Ram Jethmalani. It’s exciting to research and weave it into some kind of cinematic form as he had a very long and colourful life.”

Soha recently shot for a horror film with Nushrratt Bharuccha, which is a sequel to the 2021 release Chhorii. The actress says, “This year you will see me in a horror film. The director and the producer came to me saying that I would fit the part of the antagonist (as an evil character) perfectly. I was surprised I could look scary on screen. I wasn’t too sure about the opportunity. I asked Kunal (Kemmu, her husband) and he said he could totally see me as the scary element in the horror movie, and so did my daughter (laughs)!”

About her experience shooting for a horror film, Soha shares, “I haven’t played an antagonist before. This is the first time I even wore prosthetics. Horror as a genre is tough as it can go either way. With horror and comedy, you either love it or hate it as there is no middle way.”

Soha’s nephew Ibrahim Ali Khan is set to make his debut as an actor. Talking about him, she says, “Ibrahim is good-looking and has a charming personality. But I have not seen his work as an actor. I think that he has great potential, and it is now for the director to bring out the best in him and obviously for Ibrahim to work hard. When it comes to the acting bug, I have seen it more in Sara (Ali Khan, her niece) while they were growing up. I think things changed after Ibrahim assisted on film sets. In terms of looks, Ibrahim is definitely the taller version of bhai (Saif).”

“I was that child who always had a book in her hand. Today they say, ‘No phones at the dinner table’, my father used to tell me, ‘No books at the dinner table’,” says Soha Ali Khan, who, just like her other family members, brother Saif Ali Khan and mother Sharmila Tagore, is an avid reader. “You must make time for reading, else you become more of a book collector than a reader. I believe books really don’t want to be collected; they want to be read,” she tells us. On National Reading Day today, the actress talks to us about her love for books and her relationship with them.

Soha looks back at the time she spent in libraries. “I am a member of a public library in Delhi. I find libraries fascinating. When you spend time in a library, you feel like reading something. Being there encourages you to pick up a book,” says the actress, who feels compelled to read a book every time she is in her daughter Inaaya’s school’s library.

The vibe there takes her back to her college days. “I was lucky enough to study at Oxford University, which has one of the best libraries in the world called the Bodleian Library,” she shares.

In this digital age, Soha had a challenging time getting daughter Inaaya interested in reading. She says, “I enjoyed reading and back then, there wasn’t much competition from movies, TV or the internet. I saw mom and dad reading, and it got me interested. When it comes to Inaaya, I tell her that only when you finish reading this chapter you can eat the chocolate cake and watch TV. I know it’s not good to bribe your children, but I find it very effective (laughs). I also follow positive reinforcement of leaving books lying around her, something they do in her school too, so that kids pick up the books and read them.”

Talking about the habit of reading, “One needs to prioritize reading because it encourages focus and discipline. Just sitting with a book relaxes your mind. Since I am a reader, I don’t get bored easily. I enjoy being alone. Also, I don’t need music as a distraction and flights are not boring for me as I read. What you read shapes you as an individual. It improves your imagination, vocabulary and writing style.”

While Soha is not a part of any book club, she is fascinated by the idea. “Currently, I am not a part of any of these clubs, but I think it’s a great, inexpensive social diversion at a time when people are looking for digitally free habits and hobbies.” She does follow some celeb book recommendations. 

“There are many celebrity book clubs. I follow Ellen DeGeneres’ book recommendations, even Oprah Winfrey’s summer pick. I read those, and now it is interesting to see how many reader-actors have online and offline book clubs. Reese Witherspoon and Dua Lipa have popular book clubs.”

Sharmila Tagore recently interacted with teachers and principals of Delhi University during a book launch in the city. During the discussion, the veteran actress reminisced about her college days, spoke about a new habit she has inculcated – of writing letters to her granddaughter – and even shared some snippets from her love story with Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

As Sharmila Tagore attended a discussion at the invitation of Miranda House Principal Bijayalaxmi Nanda, she told her, “I came to Delhi in 1984 when amma, my mother-in-law, was ill. I had heard of Miranda House even before then, and I had heard about all those very bright women. And because the principal has so much to do with it, and you’re the principal now, when I received the invitation from you, I couldn’t say no. I just had to come and get this Mirandian experience.”

Not just letters, the veteran actress remembered how the lightning calls took forever. She said, “So, I didn’t have a telephone, and I used to go to Raj Singh’s house – a wonderful friend of Tiger and mine. I used to go to his house and wait for a call at 1 am. Sometimes, the phone would ring, and I would urgently pick it up, and someone at the other end would hear a female voice and quickly hang up. Poor Raj Singh ji’s reputation! The call used to go via London, so we often ended up talking to the operator. Those operators were very much a part of our love story. Maybe we should have invited them to our wedding,” she joked.

Referring to Bijayaalaxmi Nanda’s book, which is about letters, she said, “Letters are wonderful. I’ve started writing letters to Soha’s daughter Inaaya, and when Soha opened that letter, the joy on that little girl’s face and that expression made me so happy. It was the first letter she had received. So I continued writing letters to her. She writes back, and Soha takes a photograph of it and sends it to me, not the real letter. Those letters are kept somewhere for me to see someday. If I live that long and Inaaya is of a certain age, then we can compare those letters and relive those moments. When I was writing to Tiger – that way, I think technology is wonderful – it took a couple of weeks to get back.”

Kareena Kapoor’s former trainer Rupal Sidhpura Faria. Pics/Instagram

I’ve worked with Kareena Kapoor Khan and Soha Ali Khan during their pregnancies. Evidently, training during pregnancy requires attention, and the first aspect of it deals with understanding if any complications exist. We understand the background of the woman, because, during pregnancy, one can develop thyroid or gestational diabetes. Whether or not the mother has been active before also determines our training protocol. Because Kareena was active, I could train with her differently.

People assume that the exercise routine changes in each trimester, but, at times, the routine may need to be modified every week. There are certain weeks when fetal development happens a lot faster, and appropriate exercises need to be done. We need to do pranayams and take to some mudras and kriyas to deal with acidity because the growing baby pushes all the organs in the body. Also, during pregnancy, your senses are heightened, and that plays a role in determining the diet. Some people’s bodies take to pregnancy easily; for instance, Serena Williams won the Grand Slam while pregnant. Others have more difficulty adjusting to it, even if they have been fit. Some people need to have their Surya namaskars modified early on, others can pull off [advanced movements] in their sixth month too. 

Post-pregnancy, I always say it’s important to think about getting fit instead of losing weight. You don’t want to end up with [complications]. During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles get separated, and you need to work on [developing the strength again]. Sometimes, you may need physiotherapy.

After delivery, the body is never [going] to be the same. Even if it [looks] the same, you’ll find some difference in the energy levels. That’s not a bad thing. I think, it’s another process of accepting motherhood. It’s very important to give yourself at least six to eight months [before returning to routine]. 

[Ananya] enjoys doing a lot of challenging asanas, including inversions, and those that target her [ability to] balance. The best thing that I see [in the young generation] is that they are in tune with their bodies. It’s not like it was in the past. Just because they are young, they don’t ignore vital aspects like breath work and pranayama practice. In fact, the emphasis on breath work, pranayama and meditation is [dominant]. Evidently, they understand fitness holistically.

Since [the older population] has been training continuously, their bodies are malleable, and they have their consistency to thank for that. This gen doesn’t run behind the idea of sweating or executing a certain number of repetitions [to stay fit]. They focus on mindfulness as well. I think, the awareness that they have as far as fitness is concerned is 10 times more than it was in the past. They think about movements executed with intention instead of mindlessly [executing them]. It’s certainly a positive shift.

The important thing to remember, when it comes to Malaika’s fitness is that, irrespective of [her] age, she has been extremely consistent and disciplined. She fundamentally addresses four pillars of physical fitness—strength, flexibility, mobility, and endurance. Based on these, we plan her routine. Also, she doesn’t miss mindfulness [practices], like meditation and pranayama. She does that religiously, every day, because she believes what’s happening above the shoulders is also important. Also, she’s disciplined when it comes to her meals. Of course, she has her cheat days too. You will never see her without a water bottle because she knows staying hydrated is vital. 

She eats an early dinner and doesn’t eat after a certain time. She also fills her plate with eight different [meals], which include protein, carbs, fats, fibre, and other [essentials]. 

Also, I believe yoga should be a part of everyone’s routine. Yoga gives you an aesthetically beautiful body. If you see anybody who’s a practitioner of yoga, man or woman, you’ll notice that their spine is elongated, and they walk perfectly straight. [Let’s take the example of] Hrithik Roshan and John Abraham—both have great physiques, but Hrithik, perhaps because he dances, is more elongated, and is aesthetically different. That’s what yoga, and flexibility work can do. 

Also, another thing that people don’t realize is that flexibility and mobility also help you prevent injuries. Unless someone is training for competition, I don’t see the point in pushing yourself to such an extent that you end up with fatigue. [Yoga] is what I do every day, and this is [all] I need to remain physically fit. Malaika knows very well too. If she must head for a 9 am shoot, she will call her coach home at 7.15 am. 

For [women beyond the age of 40], consistency is extremely important. Yoga should be as important to people as eating, brushing, or taking a shower; hopefully people do that seven days a week.

Malaika Arora's (right) trainer Sarvesh Shashi

I always had goals, whether financial or career-oriented. I got my first job when I was 17. I went off to England when I was 18 and never stayed at home after that. I worked in a bank. I worked in the development sector. I studied extensively. I joined films because I enjoyed acting and then got married. I had not given much thought to having children. But it got to a point where it was like if you want to have children, then now is the time. I thought this was an experience that I would not want to miss out on. And I am glad because once you have a child, then you can’t imagine life without one. I also chose to have a child later in life because I feel the first couple of years of parenting are new, uncharted territory, and I wanted to focus on that. If I was multitasking, I may not have been able to find that work-life balance. I wanted to devote myself to being a mother. I did that entirely, and very happily, for two or three years.

It’s amazing when you can have conversations with kids, and get an insight into the way their minds work. If you just listen to them, you learn so much. We (adults) lack imagination. We know too much about the world. If Inaaya asks, are unicorns real? I say, “Well, I haven’t seen one. That doesn’t mean that they’re not real. I haven’t been on Mars either.” I don’t know a lot about the world, but I would like her to have that imagination for as long as possible. She just lost her first tooth so we were wondering whether we should tell her about the tooth fairy. Would she believe it? Is there Santa Claus? Soon she’s going to know. If you can keep up the magic for as long as possible, why not? But we also answer her questions. I have had arguments with her. I have lost my patience and I have apologized to her many times. But I also go to work and don’t apologize. I tell her I’m going to work because I enjoy working. She doesn’t like that. She says, “Why can’t you cancel it? If you don’t then it means you don’t love me.” I feel slowly she will understand that it’s important to have work, to have friends and other things that define you. It is great fun to have a five-year-old but it’s also difficult because kids are open to many influences. She’s going to school and there are 50,000 other people around her and she’s going to be a product of all of those things.

Kunal is an equal co-parent in sharing responsibilities. But he does have a different style of parenting. What tends to happen is that I want to have control over things like nutrition or bedtime. It’s not that he doesn’t want to be there equally, but it is because I feel like he won’t do it properly. Or nobody will do it properly. That’s why, I often become crazy over things like bedtime. Bedtime for Inaaya is strictly at 7:30 pm. Nobody comes to my house after seven o’clock.

Kunal asks the same question (laughs). But I have noticed that Inaaya functions well on 11 hours of sleep at this age. Of course, every child is different. Also, the child feels she will be able to do everything that you’re doing. It is tough to say: “No, you need to sleep for two or three hours more than I do. You’re still growing. You need to go to school in the morning.” It is tough but that discipline and being able to say ‘no’ to your child is important. It’s hard because children have very logical arguments. Inaaya is such a good negotiator. I am exhausted from negotiating every day. As a working mother, the schedule really helps me. I am doing it for my own peace of mind too as I get time to myself.

Children are very clever. What they tend to do is also play parents against each other. If I say no, she’ll go and complain to Kunal. So, it’s very important to have a united front as parents. But sometimes she really doesn’t listen. It’s important to be patient and remember that what the child is asking for may be small to you but not to them. It is easy to be dismissive and say, “so what if you don’t watch 10 minutes more of TV today? What if you can’t have candy or what if you can’t wear that ridiculous T-shirt?” But this is a child asserting his or her independence; this is them wanting to make choices because bechara they make no choices. You are anyway telling them what to wear, when to go to school, what hairstyle to keep. They are already so disenfranchised at five. It’s okay to allow them to have some say in their lives.

I don’t think you bring a pet home because you want to improve your parenting game or get a toy or playmate to make your child’s life better. A pet is another member of your family. It’s a big responsibility. Not everyone is cut out for it. Just like not everyone needs to be a parent, not everyone needs to be a pet owner. But, yes, pets do add something to your life. I have grown up with dogs because we had space. They are great companions, and it is hard to be in a bad mood with dogs around because they are so full of love. My father once said that it is important for every child to have a pet because it teaches them to cope with death. Your pet will probably die before you, and it will teach you a very hard lesson at a very young age. That’s not really a reason to get a pet but it does teach you life lessons.

She definitely wants another pet. She can’t decide between a cat or a dog. We have had many conversations around this. We remind her: “You’re in school from 8 am to 3 pm; you then want to go and play at people’s houses. Sometimes we go on holidays. Kunal and I have to go away for weeks at a time when we are shooting. Will you make time for the pet? Or will it be like the hundreds of soft toys you play with for five minutes and then toss aside? Cleaning after them, taking them for walks, spending quality time, taking them to the vet when they fall sick, all this will be your responsibility too.” And now she gets that it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. We are waiting for the right time when she is a little older to take on these responsibilities.

My mother suggested that they should really have an adventure where someone gets into trouble. Like either Bobo saves Inni or Inni saves Bobo. We are trying to figure that out as to how they could — without us looking like irresponsible parents who put them in a place of peril (laughs).To creatively collaborate with your family in itself is quite perilous. Everyone has different personalities; everyone wants things a certain way. People have tantrums. But when it comes to writing, it’s been amazing to see this process through Inaaya’s eyes. To see how a story in your mind can be put from pen to paper, finger to keyboard, and then be printed, bound, illustrated and shared with the world. She has understood the process and what it means to be an author. Seeing that happen has been wonderful.

I really should write a book on the perils of parenting. I wish I had started writing from the beginning because already five years have elapsed. And when you are a parent, every year is momentous. Like zero to one year is a stage. Then from three to five, big things are happening. But I am too busy and happy living this life right now.

You have to just say ‘no’ to screen time, and there will be times when they will really resent you, especially when your own world is inundated with screens. How do you explain to a child that she can’t watch TV when you are binge-watching an entire show because a producer wants you to see it? So much of our work is now screen-oriented and kids just don’t get it. I think it’s important for them to be screen-free for some time in the day. It’s about prioritizing and planning. Be involved and do something fun with them, whether it is art, crafts, storytelling, or reading together, or going for a walk, or even exercising. Inaaya and I do yoga together. I am old-school and sometimes I do pressurize my child to read books, even if there are many different ways of becoming smart and assimilating information today. There’s something beautiful about reading a book. As much as possible, I will be that annoying mother who will always tell her child to read a book. You will never be bored if you have a book.

I think I have more patience than her. For sure! But then I was the youngest child. She had my brother when she was 26. She was working then. By the time I was born almost 10 years later, she was home more. She was in school, she was on the PTA, she was doing bake-sales and school drop offs. She was a very visible parent for me. That’s what I want to do for Inaaya. I saw that she was a working professional who can also carve out time. It does take a community to bring up a child. She was very good at delegating responsibilities. I am learning to do that from her. And she looked after herself too. As they say, first you have to look after yourself, only then can you look after the household. Having her as a grandparent is very useful. Because she’s indulgent with Inaaya and I am there to be the authoritarian figure.

Everyone has a different approach. For me, it doesn’t work to hustle the child out of the car or say don’t do this or that. It creates a sense of fear and panic. The paparazzi have been respectful too. If you ask them to not take pictures at a certain time — that perhaps we can come back to pose later — they do listen. More importantly, it helps to have that conversation with the child about the fact that people will be taking pictures of you because your family has worked hard to attain a certain level of celebrity and they are public figures. People are interested in you as a result of that. It’s not so much about what you’ve done in life, although you’re very cute. Inaaya already understands that, and it doesn’t bother her.

In 2019, Neha Dhupia started the social media campaign, Freedom to Feed. With the initiative, the actor wanted to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding so that public spaces are made conducive for the act, and break the stigma surrounding it. Dhupia says that in the past four years, it has turned into a strong online community of over 55,000 mothers, parents and experts.

To mark the ongoing Breastfeeding Awareness Week, she will now host live sessions with actor-mothers Bipasha Basu, Dia Mirza, Gauahar Khan and content creator Masoom Minawala. The idea is to shed light on their personal breastfeeding journeys, share insight, and address common misconceptions related to nursing.

For Dhupia, who is mother to Mehr and Guriq, the cause is incredibly close to her heart. “I have personally experienced the challenges and joys of breastfeeding. It’s an empowering journey, but it’s also essential to recognise that every mother’s experience is unique and should be celebrated without judgment or shame. Through my initiative, I aim to shed light on this crucial aspect of motherhood and break the barriers that prevent mothers from openly embracing this natural process,” she says.

This year, the actor will also take the initiative on ground, hosting an in-person conversation with actor Soha Ali Khan and wrestler Geeta Phogat in Mumbai on August 7. “I am determined to educate, dispel the myths, and foster a more supportive and inclusive environment for all mothers,” adds Dhupia.

Female celebrities in Bollywood are redefining what fitness over 40 can look like. A far cry from the unimaginative weightlifting programmes recommended to women of this age group, their routines are dominated by swift, powerful, and demanding movements, designed to test both their mental and physical limits.

Mahesh Ghanekar, who has been crafting the routines of Bipasha Basu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Soha Ali Khan, adheres to a simple principle when working with them. “I don’t keep them in the gym for more than 45 minutes. The routines involve executing 16 to 17 repetitions of each exercise. As soon as their heart rate drops to around 135 bpm, we move on to the next one. In any given session, we end up burning about 550 calories,” says Ghanekar, asserting that the crux of his approach lies in enhancing core-strength.

A conventional deadlift or squat is amended to employ the core muscles more than it traditionally would, and power movements are swapped for those that are executed with control. “For instance, while deep-squats are usually executed with a wider stance, I tell my clients to work with a narrow stance, and squat till a range that enables the core muscles to remain engaged throughout the range of motion. Standing barbell squats and dumbbell squats are some iterations to bring about this change.”

As he continues to help Basu shrug off her post-pregnancy weight, Ghanekar acknowledges that the actor benefits from the years of effort that she has put into caring for her health.

“Post her delivery, she had told me that she had gained several inches, and lost strength. Within a few days of our training, she began to see some change. I find her eager to take on challenges now, which is an interesting aspect. Her muscles develop rather quickly, and her energy levels are also improving. Similarly, Kareena, who would usually practice yoga, has also started seeing the benefits of [functional training]. Her strength has improved, and she often tells me how her costume designers need to [redo her attire] as she continues to lose inches.”

The trainer asserts that any high-intensity routine needs to be preceded by a sound knowledge of the appropriate techniques of every exercise. His ability to gauge the flaws in the actors’ forms, and communicate effectively to help them fix it, is what, he says, has enabled him to find success in the field.

“I also try to understand their [emotional] state. If they appear unwilling to execute certain exercises, I find the means to target the muscle groups in different ways. It is important to surprise and shock the muscles to effect change. I find it crucial to ensure that their physique continues to improve month-after-month.”

As assertive as he is about the intensity of their routine, Ghanekar is equally concerned about the periods of recovery.

“A day of rest following two days of training, is essential. And no matter how dedicated they are, they eventually need the break to recover. Often, I’ve sent them home if their energy isn’t up to the mark. I need them to be well rested in order to perform optimally.”

Enthusiasts, he says, will benefit by adopting a routine that is feasible to follow. “I often have discussions with the actors on their eating habits. I don’t encourage them to stick to a diet that’s not easy to follow. The idea is to work with what you do, and make small adjustments on the go. Also, to new mothers, I’d say it’s important to give an hour of your day to your health. Women often focus on the needs of their [family] and forget about themselves. Focus on what you eat and love yourself.”

There is always something new to try your hand at, even after 60 years in the acting business. Sharmila Tagore will vouch for it. The veteran actor, who was last seen on screen in Break Ke Baad (2010), is making her OTT debut this week with Gulmohar. From shooting in the ’60s without vanity vans, to headlining an OTT project in the present day, Tagore has witnessed a sea change in showbiz.

“I remember there were no vanity vans until Amitabh [Bachchan] got the first one. Now, it has become so much more comfortable to work in films, and OTT is even more organized. Everybody is punctual. While shooting for Gulmohar, everything was spot-on — from the first shot, to the outfits, to the time you pack up,” she marvels.

Gulmohar sees Tagore as the Batra family’s matriarch, with Manoj Bajpayee playing her son, and Suraj Sharma, her grandson. In Rahul Chittella’s directorial venture, she got not only a powerful script, but also a spirited character.

“Kusum is independent, has clarity of vision, and is a senior who leaves the door open for the younger people to reach out to her. While she loves her family, she is clear about what she wants to do, and has no guilt [about pursuing it],” says the actor, admitting that she shares many similarities with her on-screen persona. She praises Chittella for making a film that goes beyond a family drama.

“It is a story of three generations, and our [different] points of view. Every character is well-rounded. It’s up to the viewer to get the [subtext] as each line says something. I have seen it three times, and found it faultless. I am openly asking my friends to come and watch it,” she laughs.

So, has her family watched it? “Saif [Ali Khan] is yet to watch it as he is shooting in Amritsar. Kareena [Kapoor Khan] saw it last night. Soha, Saba and Sara have loved it. The movie speaks to different generations — from Sara’s to mine.”

Going forward, the actor, 78, is aware that she might not get scripts as brilliant as Gulmohar. Tell her it’s not easy to get her nod for a project, and she says it’s imperative to be selective. “[I am so] because at this stage, I don’t want to do anything I might regret later. When you are young, you make many mistakes, but you have time to make up for them. But when you reach a certain age, you cannot be foolish in your choices because there are expectations and goodwill [attached to you]. Unless you are sure about the character, there is no point in doing a project.”

Soon-to-be moms Alia Bhatt; Sonam K Ahuja are among those currently training with Anshuka Parwani; Parwani with Pernia Qureshi. Pics/Instagram

Yoga appears to be the go-to exercise regimen that Bollywood’s to-be moms are turning to. Celebrity yoga trainer Anshuka Parwani, who has been training Alia Bhatt and Sonam K Ahuja during their pregnancies, reveals that actresses today are less apprehensive about their physical appearance, and have been approaching pregnancies “as the natural next step” in their life. 

“[Both Alia and Sonam] were curious about how their practices would differ during their pregnancies, and wanted to understand why we were doing what we did. Conversations would change over the different trimesters, because each trimester brings about different changes in the body.”

Yoga, she reveals, can address all the different fitness components that can benefit pregnant women. “Each time you arrive for a session, you are shocking your own body. Your body is heavier than the last time, and performing the same movements becomes tougher. You don’t need to supplement [it with another exercise form], but walking is beneficial. I also encourage them to practise breath-work, because that keeps stress in check.”

Staying active, says Parwani, is equally important, both during pregnancy, and after delivery. Highlighting that she would encourage both Bhatt and Ahuja to resume training within six weeks of delivery, Pawani says both the actors have continued to stay active during their ongoing pregnancies. “Sonam may not be out of a shooting schedule, but during her time in London, she would walk about Hyde Park frequently. Staying active also enables women to progress through their pregnancies [with ease].”

Parwani highlights that exercise patterns for both the actors were altered based on their daily requirements. “Swelling of arms and feet are common, so we do asanas that enable them to reduce bloating. We avoid postures that involve hyper-extension, because that exerts pressure on the muscles of the core. If one of them did not feel centred enough, we’d focus on balancing asanas. If they felt stiff, we’d focus on flexibility.”

Parwani, who also trained fashion entrepreneur Pernia Qureshi during her pregnancy, reveals that training thrice a week is usually recommended. “I often encourage women to also do activities like sweeping the floor, because that posture is beneficial for them. But, it’s essential to pay attention to one’s safety. Avoid things like hot yoga, or classes [along those lines], and don’t start something new. Unless it has been specified by a medical professional, I encourage women to do their own work during this time. Concepts like eating for two during pregnancy are old-school.”

- Sharing a string of images of her practising yoga, both before and during her pregnancy, Anushka Sharma advocated its benefits. 

- Having spoken about her love for yoga on multiple occasions, Kareena Kapoor Khan also practised the form during her pregnancy.

- Practising yoga during pregnancy, Soha Ali Khan had previously said in an interview, enabled her to develop a close bond with her child. She had spoken about adjusting her routine, and avoiding prone positions during a period of her pregnancy.

It is the best time to be an actor, especially owing to the digital boom. Actors are no longer bound by age when approached for a role, talent is all that matters. Saif Ali Khan was one of the earliest mainstream actors to explore the digital entertainment; following in his footsteps is sister Soha Ali Khan, who made her web debut with ZEE5’s Kaun Banegi Shikarwati. But, she insists that the inspiration didn’t come from observing her brother’s trajectory in the medium. “I don’t think or plan according to him. Both of us [don’t] believe in playing vanilla characters. I do what excites me creatively. I am grateful for the OTT space because it is rewarding.”

Growing up in a royal family gave Soha the edge to play a princess in the Naseeruddin Shah, Lara Dutta and Kritika Kamra-starrer that revolves around a former king, who devises outlandish plans to unite his estranged daughters. “I think the backdrop was relatable. [I remember] spending holidays in Rajasthan, Jodhpur and staying in those beautiful rooms. I was comfortable around horses, the music, the poise and body language, especially at family dinners, but I couldn’t relate to the crazy family,” explains Soha, adding that she considers her acting career only “a part of my life”. “I have a lot in my life that keeps me busy. My focus has always been the people in my life.”

Soha believes in “striving for balance” in life. “I want to be present as a mother and daughter. It is tough to be in so many places at once. The lockdown has taught us to find contentment within the absence of normalcy,” she says. 

“[Just] because I am in my early 40s, doesn’t mean my life as an actress has ended. I am not insecure as an actor. [The change in the offers] that come my way makes me hopeful.” Soha credits her mother Sharmila Tagore for motivating her to prioritise her life over others. “I often put others before me, and she always tells me to find something of my own. She has been inspiring me to write another book or play badminton. It is good when there is one person who is always looking out for you.”

Soha Ali Khan, Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Anya Singh and Kritika Kamra

There was a time when actor Soha Ali Khan’s daughter, Inaaya Naumi Kemmu, would ask millions of questions about strangers taking her photographs. But Khan shares that the four-year-old has accepted the attention over time.

“When she was little, she used to ask me: ‘Who are these people? And why are they taking our pictures?’ She didn’t know what was happening and whether it was something that happened to everybody,” Khan shares.

The 43-year-old tells us that she tried to explain that people in her family are public figures, and “people are interested in seeing them as well as their lives”. “Inaaya grasped that concept. Now, it doesn’t scare her or make her anxious. She sort of takes it in her stride. We also don’t try to whisk her away or anything,” adds Khan, who is married to actor Kunal Kemmu.

With the pandemic, a sense of distance has come between celebrities and paparazzi, which Khan appreciates as “Inaaya is a little protected”.

Khan also shares that when Inaaya refuses for a picture at home, her parents respect her call. “There are many times at home where she tells me not to take her video or photo. And I respect that. She hasn’t yet said that when she is being papped outside. But sometimes these pictures are taken without consent,” she says, adding, “That is something my family signed up for, but Inaaya hasn’t. So that is a conversation she and I could have at a later stage.”

Actor Akshay Kumar is riding high on the success of Sooryavanshi. The theatrically released film is set to enter the ₹200-crore club. As he gears up for the release of Atrangi Re, he talks to us about his part in the film, unity in the industry, and more. Excerpts:

God has been so kind, but this wouldn’t have been possible without the support from our fans. To be able to come this far, with only 50% occupancy (in theatres) in some states, is more than what I could have wished for. Cinemagoers deserved a party after such a long and painful pandemic.

There’s nothing like facing a challenge this big and being the first film to open the doors, knowing that your peers, colleagues and idols are rooting for you. I pray this sense of togetherness remains forever. I felt we were all for one and one for all.

I feel I’ve reached a place in life, where I do things because I want to do them and not because I have to. Atrangi Re makes you fall in love with love. There wasn’t even a flicker of doubt in my soul. I felt nothing but gratitude to be a part of a film, so brilliantly led by (actors) Dhanush and Sara Ali Khan. Aanand L Rai (director) captivated me. Whether I just have a special role on an elephant in his film, sometimes, just being invited to the party is enough.

I love the world he creates... it is vibrant and colourful, yet complicated, which fascinates me. He knows his characters well and he has a strong understanding of complex human emotions, which is why he manages to showcase them so beautifully. His passion for storytelling and conviction for his stories has made me collaborate with him, not once but thrice already. All the films are yet to release.

Have you ever heard someone say they are tired of their true love? When you are as lucky as I am and get to live your dream, work, chase, respect and admire your dream every single day. There is not a minute that goes by when you feel worn out. I feel alive, more than ever. All I need is an early night and a healthy breakfast, and I’m happy to entertain all day long. I may be a Grinch at night, but once the sun rises, it doesn’t matter what kind of week I’ve had. Every new day in the industry is a blessing. There’s no time to be tired.

The late cricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi instituted the Bhopal Pataudi Cup (polo) in 1966. Saif Ali Khan hosts the tournament every year in memory of his father. While he won’t be able to attend the event this year, he gets nostalgic about his family’s association with sports and how they shaped his life. Excerpts from a chat:

Growing up, the family philosophy has always been derived from sport — fair play and sportsmanship are values we have been brought up with. My father always thought of himself as a sportsman even when he was seventy! In his last moments at the hospital, he was slouching, and my mother told him, “Don’t slouch, Tiger!”, to which he said, “Rinku, all batsmen slouch!” (laughs!)

Sadly, I never saw my grandfather play polo because he died when my father was young. It’s something we have only seen photographs of or heard conversations about. It’s been all around us when we have grown up. My father stopped playing when I was four or five years old. I do remember him having a bandage on his chin. That was when Andy Roberts’ bouncer hit him on the chin, and he needed a lot of stitches. And I remember thinking that cricket is quite a violent game (laughs!).

My mother will be there. I won’t be able to go this year because I’m shooting, but I’m happy that my management is taking care of it. We will try and be there next year and every year thereon. North India is a big part of my life and my father's life. I would like to spend some time there with my family. Let’s see how we can best use our energy to make it more of an event and create more awareness for both social causes and the sport. We wish to make it more holistic.

There was a fair amount of pressure to play sport, but luckily, they were such nice and wise people that they never pressured us to do any of it. Working hard and applying yourself is one thing, but to play any sport well, you need to be naturally gifted. And I think my gifts lie more in cinema.

My mother has a strong presence when it comes to polo. In addition, Soha is very good at sports. She plays badminton and has a bit of the Pataudi blood in that respect. My grandmother and a lot of the ladies in the family have been strong and independent women, so we don’t know any other kind of women in our family. We have grown up with a healthy respect and understanding of what an equal relationship is and are quite aware of the fact that nine times out of 10, a woman is more organised and smarter than a man.