TIMES HAVE CHANGED
As a child, I'd make a lot of money on Raksha Bandhan (laughs). I have two younger brothers, Sahaj (21) and Shivang (20) and a lot of cousins and I would get a minimum of Rs100 from each one of them. Back then, my dad would give them the Rs100 to give to me. Now that my brothers have all grown up, I tell them they should give me from their own pockets (grins). Of course, the stakes are higher now and I insist that everyone give me at least Rs1000 per brother this time. I have to make more money!
THE DAY ITSELF
I think Raksha Bandhan is a day of fun and celebrations. But the bond formed between brothers and sisters and the principle behind the festival - for brothers to ensure the safety and security of their sisters - should be applied all through the year and not just one day. The day is also an excuse for families to come together and eat good food. We have big steel rakhi thalis with the sindoor, rice, boondi laddoos and chocolate (some people don't eat sweets). It's a day of masti, shouting, everyone getting up early and getting ready for the rakhi-tying ceremony, going out with your brothers for lunch. A lot of photo sessions also happen that day...
ANGREZI DABBA, DESI DULAAR
Before I became an actress and was studying in England, where rakhi means nothing, I would buy red-and-gold coloured theads and send the rakhis. It's very hard to find rakhis there. It was just a simple thread, but along with that I would buy them something - like shoes, tees or even gadgets. So they would get these dabbas from London on Raksha Bandhan.
NEVER TOO FAR
Normally, I make it a point to always tie rakhi on Sahaj and Shivang every year but unfortunately this year both are not here and I am also shooting. Shivang is completing his 2nd year MBBS in Pune while Sahaj finished assisting Dawaat-E-Ishq (her next release) and is now in Ambala with my parents where he will stay for a month and help our dad out with his business. He had moved in with me to Mumbai last year as he wants to become an AD.
Of course, though, I won't be there to tie rakhis on them this year, I have sent my rakhis and letters and am now just waiting for the cheques to come (laughs) as my side of the deal is done. We are planning to talk on FaceTime tomorrow as one of my one cousin sisters also ties them rakhis. Of the two, Sahaj is more mature as he takes care of all of us - including handling our house and helping dad. I feel younger than him sometimes.
FUN THINGS WE DO
If you ask me about the most precious gift my two beloved brothers have given me, honestly it's just the fact that they have grown up so well... They are just a year apart and I am four years older than them but now we never feel the age gap anymore. We do a lot of fun things together. On my last holiday to Phuket, I had taken them along. I was learning advanced scuba diving but I wanted them to learn sky diving and deep-sea diving. Our relationship with each other is so cool now. Earlier it would be 'Didi, give me this now' but now it's more mature. They don't feel scared of me and are very level-headed about me being a known face. In fact, because of my being an actress and being known, they get irritated sometimes as to why we can't go the to mall together and shop for them as we used to? When fans stop and click pics, they tell me I am wasting their time (laughs).
REALITY CHECK
They are not bothered at all by my fame. Even now, they expect me to go to the chemist and get medicines. For me, it's like a big reality check to have them around. They couldn't be bothered to attend events with me. We go for IIFA together as we are travelling and holidaying. I enjoy their company so much! It's great fun having them around! Sahaj and I have become very close. He is one guy who knows everything in my life and is one of my best friends. Shivang sometimes feels a bit left out because of that, but he's still a little bit of a baby...
--As told to Upala KBR
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