HT Brunch cover story: Sisters before misters, bros before beaus… celebrating Raksha Bandhan version 2.0!
Rakhi gets a modern makeover and it is not about who protects whom anymore, but a celebration of your BFF
Rithvik Dhanjani, (29), Actor and Heena Dhanjani, (25), Fashion Designer
His ticket to innocence
This sister takes pain to portray him as the most innocent person in the world (he isn’t!)
“I’m totally opposed to the traditional concept of Rakhi. In fact, it’s Heena who protects me,” says actor Rithvik Dhanjani and adds how his sister portrays him as ‘the most innocent person in the world’ even when he is wrong. This pretty much sums up their bond!
Is Raksha Bandhan today about the brother protecting the sister, or vice versa?
Rithvik: Heena has been my ultimate saviour in super sticky situations when my mother has found things in my pockets that shouldn’t be seen by her at all.
One thing you hate about your sibling?
Rithvik: At times she forgets to love herself.
Heena: He is very messy!
And one thing you love?
Rithvik: She does a lot for the family.
Heena: He makes sure I’m fine and happy.
Sidharth Bhardwaj (29), Actor and Jaya Bhardwaj (27), Brand Specialist
A guard against my girlfriends
“I’ve always protected him and always will,” says the younger sister with the heart of a mother
Sidharth Bhardwaj, an actor and TV presenter, has always seen Rakhi as the best way to celebrate his sister, Jaya, a brand strategist with Universal Music, who he considers the strongest pillar in his life. She’s fierce with Sidharth’s girlfriends who do him wrong – something Sidharth finds super protective and cute! Jaya revels in her role as his protector from flighty women and saviour from punishment when he spent too much time hanging out with the guys.
Is Raksha Bandhan today about the brother protecting the sister, or vice versa?
Sidharth: It’s about supporting and understanding each other equally.
Jaya: I’ve always protected him and always will.
One thing you hate about your sibling?
Sidharth: Her gussa (anger).
Jaya: He eats a lot!
And one thing you love?
Sidharth: Her caring nature.
Jaya: He makes me laugh with his crazy humour when he has to say sorry!
Narresh, (33), Fashion Designer and Samrridhi Kukreja, (28), Visual Artist
The best version of themselves!
This creative duo guides, pushes and supports each other to be the best they can be
Samrridhi is the one who runs to her elder brother and designer Narresh’s rescue all the time! Case in point: She made sure that the former client ripping off Narresh’s designs got what was coming to her. Says Samrridhi. “We guide, push and support each other to be the best versions of ourselves and we love each other no matter what!” she says. And today, Raksha Bandhan is spent by them clicking boomerangs doing the exact opposite of what Rakhi stands for! “She’s beating me up and treating me like her slave in them,” reveals Narresh.
Is Raksha Bandhan today about the brother protecting the sister, or vice versa?
Narresh: It stands for non judgemental love, togetherness and an equal support system for both of us.
Samrridhi: It’s about an honest relationship minus judgements.
One thing you hate about your sibling?
Narresh: That she still thinks that mom loves me more.
Samrridhi: He doesn’t relax enough.
And one thing you love?
Narresh: No one gives me more attention than her.
Samrridhi: His creativity.
Wayne Lombard, (33), Lead Scientific Advisor of The Indian Women’s Hockey Team with Captain Rani (24), Monika (26) and Navneet Kaur (23)
The male star of an all-female hockey team
This lucky chap works the Indian Hockey team so well, he gets rakhis and responsibility in return
Wayne Lombard is a lucky man. He has 18 players from the Indian national team tying him rakhi. It all started in 2017, when Rani made him a brother. Wayne jokes that they have to get his approval before selecting a husband, and when he fell sick recently, he had a whole team of hockey-playing nurses at his beck and call.
Is Rakhsha Bandhan today about the brother protecting the sister, or vice versa?
Wayne: The girls are the ones protecting me here!
Monika: More than protection, it’s the understanding and bonding that matters.
One thing you hate about your sibling?
Wayne: I get worried when they don’t take good care of their health.
Rani: He doesn’t let me sleep for long.
One thing you love?
Wayne: Their dedication and passion.
Rani: His motivating behaviour.
Monika: He’s caring.
Navneet: He takes us out for fun activities.
Vicram Sharma (44), Businessman, and Pushpanjali R Chawla (42), Consultant
I pledge, you pledge
Being siblings is a promise for life
For Vicram, CEO, Baidyanath Group of Companies, his sister Pushpanjali, owner of Pivotul Consulting, is also one of his soulmates... being just a year and a half younger to him. This also means that both are equally protective about one another! Vicram says, “Pushpanjali is the one I turn to for all relationship advise, and as luck would have it, 10 out of 10 times, her intuition and advise is correct. Growing up with my sister is one of the best gifts my parents gave me!”
Is Raksha Bandhan today about the brother protecting the sister, or vice versa?
Vicram: It’s not that anymore. Because we’re so bonded, Pushpanjali is very intuitive and gives me the best advice.
Pushpanjali: Historically it has meant that the brother will protect his sister, but for me, it’s a bond of love and Rakhi is a pledge between a brother and sister to protect each other physically, emotionally and spiritually.
One thing you hate about your sibling?
Vicram: In most situations she predicts my reaction/move with amazing accuracy.
Pushpanjali: He does not let me eat milk chocolate as it is fattening.
One thing you love about your sibling?
Vicram: She senses if something’s troubling me.
Pushpanjali: I love him with all his eccentricities.
What’s the one gift you want?
Vicram: A good vacation with Pushpanjali, her husband Rohtash and the kids.
Pushpanjali: A spa-getaway.
Shiv (37), Golfer and Diya Kapur (41), Lawyer
Bully meets bestie
She makes him wear ugly rakhis, but saves him from fights
Shiv Kapur always counted on Diya, a litigation lawyer, to help him get out of fights at school with older guys. Of course, she also bullied him – making him wear the ugliest and loudest rakhi (with lights, fake 100 rupee notes et al) and continues to do the same even today! When Diya got married, Shiv told her, “even though it’s my duty as a brother to always protect you, in this case, I think my brother-in-law needs the protection!”Diya grew up convinced that she needed to take care of her little bro. “There was constant playful banter and at the same time ruthless honesty between us while growing up. We fought, but always had each other’s backs. That hasn’t changed,” she says
Is Raksha Bandhan today about the brother protecting the sister, or vice versa?
Shiv: It’s an eternal bond. When I need advice, my sisters are the first people I turn to, because they always have my best interests at heart.
Diya: We grew up in a very non gendered way, so our bond is already ungendered. We played golf together through our childhood.
One thing you hate about your sibling?
Shiv: She continues to embarrass me publicly and pulls my cheeks like I’m a five-year-old!
Diya: Nothing at all.
And one thing you love?
Shiv: She still has my back.
Diya: I love his ridiculous sense of humour.
Kamna Kapoor, (3), and Vishnu Kapoor, (10 ) months
“My baby bro is the bestest”
She’s happy to share her toys with him but won’t let anyone hold him
Unlike most baby girls who get stressed at the thought of sharing attention and toys with another sibling, three-year-old Kamna was absolutely thrilled when she came to know that her chachi was going to deliver a baby. So, when Vishnu, her ‘baby bro’ as she calls him was born, Kamna was on cloud nine.
Though Vishnu is just 10 months old, Kamna is already making plans for the time he will accompany her to play areas and even to school. And that’s not all. Kamna is extremely possessive about him and doesn’t want any of her friends or even her other cousins to play with Vishnu. She’s super excited about his first Rakhi and has already bought a nice ‘Doraemon’ rakhi for him besides getting her mom to order a nice Hugo Boss set and lots of toys for him.
One thing you dislike about him?
Kamna: I don’t like it when he cries a lot.
One thing you love?
Kamna: When he screams with delight on seeing me.
What are you gifting?
Kamna: A Hugo Boss set and lots of toys.
Arush Khanna (29), Lawyer and Sakhi Khanna Bajaj (25), Talent Scout
Twin sisters, a brother and girlfriends galore!
How his sisters play girlfriend police and how any girl can survive their wrath
Arush pampers his twin sisters Siya and Sakhi. While the brother makes the rules, the older twin (Siya) is the reason why the rules are made, and the youngest one (Sakhi) breaks them. The sisters help Arush sort out relationship issues, so much so that he wonders how any over-possessive girlfriend would survive their wrath.
Is rakhi today about the brother protecting the sister, or vice versa?
arush: this may be true traditionally, but for me, my dependence on them is much more than theirs on me.
Sakhi: Our brother has always lived up to his promise of taking care of us, but now we are the two pillars on which he can always rely for support.
One thing you hate about your siblings?
Arush: Siya has OCD when it comes to cleanliness and Sakhi is stubborn at times.
Sakhi: He gets too stressed at work and can be a little all over the place.
And one thing you love?
Arush: She can show love like no one else.
Sakhi: He lavishly showers his love (and goodies).
Ishita Yashvi (37), Restaurateur and Umang Vanshika (29), Make-up Artist
The girls who honour the rakhi bond
Two strong women strengthen their sisterhood by tying rakhis and promising to have each other’s back
Ishita and Umang have never felt bad that they don’t have a brother. Rakhi for them is a celebration of the fact that their mother always wanted daughters. Being a single parent, their mother raised them as strong, independent individuals, capable of protecting themselves and one another too. So, they’ve grown up being each other’s backs while Ishita has been wearing the pants in the family. “I’ve always saved Umang from sticky situations – filled in for her at family functions and even attended a parent-teacher meeting at school when Umang fared badly in her pre-board exams,” reveals Ishita.
Is Rakhi today about the brother protecting the sister, or vice versa?
Ishita: No matter the age gap or gender, if your sibling is your go-to person, then there’s only that.
Umang: Siblings are always best friends.
One thing you hate about your sibling?
Ishita: She takes things a little too casually at times.
Umang: She takes things a little too seriously.
And one thing you love about your sibling?
Ishita: She’s always there for me.
Umang: She’s very driven.
Sandiip Sikcand (48), Creative Director, Actor and Producer and Anantica Sahir (35), Writer
Brother from another mother
This rakhi sister is also a third wheel on his dates!
When his best friend’s wife, Anantica, asked Sandiip if he’d like to be called mamu (maternal uncle) by her newborn child, he instantly found a Rakhi sister in her. His biological sister, Seema, is almost a mother to him, and Anantica is a confidant and partner in crime.
Says Anantica. “I’ve third wheeled on his dates, and that’s something that comes with the bond of Rakhi which we’ve had for the last 10 years.”
Is Rakhi today about the brother protecting the sister, or vice versa?
Sandiip: It’s a celebration of the bond you share with your best friend in the form of a sibling.
Anantica: It is about understanding and maturity.
One thing you hate about your sibling?
Sandiip: Nothing in either Seema or Anantica.
Anantica: He has very little time for himself.
And one thing you love?
Sandiip: I have two pillars to support me through any problem I may ever face.
Anantica: I can count on him.
What’s the one gift you want?
Sandiip: Love and best wishes.
Anantica: His endless and unconditional love and support always.
Tarun Sibal (37), Chef and Restaurateur and Neha Sibal Kapoor (36), Fashion Designer
My sister, my star!
He chaperones her on her late nights, she makes calls to girls on his behalf
Tarun plays the protective brother to the hilt, chaperoning Neha on all her late nights and scrutinising everyone she meets, and Neha protects her brother from relatives constantly teasing him about his weight. In school, she also made calls on his behalf to girls he was keen to talk to.
Is Rakhi today about the brother protecting the sister, or vice versa?
Tarun: Your own brother or sister covering up for you is the most satisfying feeling and that will not change with time.
Neha: It’s more about moral support than protection today.
One thing you hate about your sibling?
Tarun: I’m jealous of the fact that she has always had it easy.
Neha: He gets emotionally involved with everything and needs to chill a bit.
And one thing you love?
Tarun: She is fairly chilled out, extremely talented and super fun.
Neha: I love his zeal and passion for his work.
Who is wearing what in the group photo: (clockwise from top left)
On Sidharth: Shirt: United Colors of Benetton; denims: Zara; shoes; Nike
On Jaya: Dress and jacket: Forever New, shoes; Bata
On Kamna: Suit: Biba
On Vishnu: Dhoti set, Hopscotch
On Rithvik: Blazer, Umang Mehta, T-shirt, Being Human; Tommy Hilfiger; shoes, Heel & Buckle London; accessories, Be Bajrang
On Heena: Outfit, Shambhavi Gandhi; jewellery, Kiara Jewels
On Samrridhi and Narresh: Outfit and shoes: Shivann & Narresh
On Tarun: T-shirt; H&M; denims, Superdry; jacket, Zara; glasses, Tom Ford; watch: Tag Heuer; shoes, Onitsuka Tiger
On Neha: Outfit, Neha & Tarun; footwear, coach; watch, iWatch
On Pushpanjali: Dress, Pia Pauro; watch, Rolex; bracelet and ring, Amaris by Prerna Rajpal, earrings, Inaaya by Deepa Mehra
On Vicram: Kurta, Varun Bahl; jeans, AllSaints; shoes, from a local market in London
On Arush: Kurta and breeches, Brahaan by Narains; Nehru jacket, Ashish N Soni; watch, Tissot; shoes, from a market in Jaipur
On Sakhi: Dress, Poonam Dubey Designs
On Umang: Dress, Bershka; shoes, Zara; earrings, H&M
On Ishita; Top and pants, FabIndia; earrings, Amrapali; ring, Johari Bazaar, Jaipur; shoes, Beymen, Turkey
On Anantica: Dress, Fusspot; earrings; Vintage
On Sandiip: Outfit, Vidyarthi, Bandra
On Monika: Outfit, Ritu Kumar; jewellery, Ko Jewellery, Bengaluru
On Navneet: Outfit, Ritu Kumar; jewellery, Amrapali
On Wayne: Shirt and denims, Jack & Jones
On Rani: Outfit, Ritu Kumar; jewellery; Pipa Bella and Amrapali
On Shiv: Shirt, Blackberrys; jeans, Hugo Boss; watch, Audemars Piguet
On Diya: Shirt, Theory, jeans, Gap; shoes, market in Australia
Join in the conversation using #RakhiReinvented
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From HT Brunch, August 11, 2019
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