Telly stars indulge in sibling revelry

TV actors open up about their real life siblings who have stood by each other through thick and thin

Raksha Bandhan, the occasion to celebrate sibling love, is observed across the country with much fan fare. A host of television actors too are gearing for the big day by taking a day off from work to spend some time with their siblings. Here’s what a few actors have to say about their loved ones:

Ssharad Malhotraa: My world pretty much revolves around my sister, Reema Pawa. I still remember when I had gifted her a smartphone with my first salary — she had got very emotional. I am planning to go to Kolkata to spend some time with her. Since she loves jewellery I am also planning to buy some designer jewellery for her. We do have our share of arguments like any other siblings, but we share a very strong bond. She knows that I am just a phone call away.

Gunjan Utreja: I have two younger sisters, Kaveri Utreja and Gayatri Utreja. Kaveri is a pastry chef and Gayatri works in the HR department at an MNC. Ours is a unique relationship — I started attending their PTA meetings ever since I was in the 12th standard. Every important decision we make in our lives is taken only after we consult each other. I religiously treasure every rakhi tied to me in a box. We don’t gift each other on special days — we prefer doing something for the underprivileged instead.

Aishwarya Sakuja: My brother, Shyam Ahuja is settled in Dubai. The best thing about my brother is his selfless nature. He does not expect anything from anyone and I believe it’s a rare quality. My most memorable rakhi was last year when I went to meet him in Dubai unannounced. Even though I can’t meet him this time, we are looking forward to talking on Skype and celebrating the festival.

Gaurav Khanna: My sisters and cousins send me rakhis by post and I religiously wear them on my wrist. In fact, this has been the ritual for the past 13 years, ever since I shifted base to Mumbai. Luckily, I got a chance to meet them in person while I was promoting my show in Kanpur. In fact, I even managed to personally give them their rakhi gifts.

Akshay Dogra: My sister, Riddhi, has always been my pillar of support. We always celebrate Raksha Bandhan in Delhi, where we have lunch together with our family. I’m usually pressed for time in Mumbai, so this festival gives me the chance to catch up with everyone. I also get an excuse to cheat on my diet and gorge on sweets. Unfortunately I won’t be able to celebrate the festival this year because Riddhi is travelling, but we will stay connected despite the distance.