The Baby who Makes Anil Kapoor's 'Day' : Sonam - The Lucky One

Sonam is a bright, happy, chirpy little baby. Good-natured and full of fun. She has taken after her mother Sunita and happily did the photo session without a whimper, whine or tantrum - a welcome change from the starry behavior of her father.

It's not difficult to locate "Shingar", Anil Kapoor's house tucked away in a quiet wooded by-lane of Juhu. For, the gateway is invariably blocked by a motley crowd of people, the inevitable stargazers, thirsting for a glimpse of their favorite star. They wait patiently, for hours on end, we are told. And Anil does not disappoint them, if he happens to be home. Every now and then, he appears at the window, his eyes crinkled up with a familiar lopsided grin and he waves cheerily. The crowd responds lustily and moves away, content. A few minutes of respite and some more stragglers appear - the mark of a successful star.

Today, the only privacy Anil can hope for, is within the four walls of his home. And though he is not at home often, this little bit of heaven, aesthetically done up in a cool white marble with a profusion of greenery all around, is what he looks forward to after a day's hard work.

But today is special. Anil has all the time in the world to bask the warmth of his cozy home. There is no make-up to don, no schedules to adhere to, no tiring bouts of fighting and dancing, nothing at all. The day is his exclusively, to do what he pleases. A day to be savored, treasured, for like all the good things in life it comes occasionally - just once a month, to be precise.

We wonder if Anil starts this much looked forward to second Sunday with a song on is lips. He doesn't, we discover. There is no lazing around in bed till late, either.

It's barely seven when he is woken up with two plump hands caressing his face. And a second later, his face is wet with a shower of kisses. He opens his eyes groggily to the beloved sight of his fifteen-month-old daughter, Sonam. Sonam incidentally means 'lucky' in Ladakhi. True to her name, his baby daughter's birth ushered in all the good things that had been evading Anil till then - plum roles, more money, big banners and of course mass adulation.

Anil is one of those rare stars who values family togetherness a great deal. Busy he is, but never too busy for wife Sunita and daughter Sonam. There's no 'nagging wife and neglected child' syndrome here. There is always time for them. The few hours in the morning before he leaves for work is spent playing with Sonam and chatting to Sunita. And if he is shooting close-by, he makes it a point to drop in for lunch. He says, "At no time do I have more than nine films on hand. Yes, I can sign films by the dozen, make a fast buck and push off. But that's not what I want. I want to give my best to the roles I pick. And I can't d that if I'm rushing around in a frenzy."

A sensible change, unlike some of the stars who work round the clock, too busy for anything, or anyone. Anil's work schedule therefore is pretty well organized too helped by brother Boney Kapoor. He rarely shoots more than one shift a day and sits in only for story sessions. His efficient secretary handles the other work.

The Anil is a family-oreinted man is very much in evidence. And the family, taking advantage of the holiday is around today. His mother is spending the weekend here, and Boney has dropped by to spend some time. Sunita's mother is also present and the two grandmothers fondly watch the video film taken on their grand-daughter's first birthday.

Sonam, however, has eyes for no on except Papa. "When he is around, she doesn't come even to me," grumbles Mama Sunita good naturedly. Father and daughter hand in hand decide to go for a walk. They skip down the stairs and stroll around in the spacious compound. Before we can shoot this heart-warming sight, a few curious onlookers stop by at the gate. Anil waves to them hastily, scoops Sonam into his arms and bounds upstairs again. Their togetherness is threatened by intruders.

Once home, Sonam decides to play with her dolls, and of course Papa. The toys tumble out, a bright green frog with a pink tongue, a beautiful doll with golden curls almost as big as her, a pug-nosed brown monkey. She scatters them around and Anil and Sonam are soon lose in a world of delighted squeals, gurgles and laughter.

Mama Sunita realizes it is time for Sonam's feed, and she must be fed before her little tummy growls in protest. Normally, it is Sunita's task, but today Sonam stubbornly refuses. Breakfast, consisting of fruit and porridge is laid out in the nursery -- a room any little girl would love. Done up in pastel shades of baby blue and pink, it has a huge bed covered in matching quilt and cushions, facing a shelf loaded with the child's favorite toys. Anil puts Sonam in her high chair, perches himself on the baby cot and proceeds to feed her. Sonam placidly accepts two spoons full of porridge and then decides it's Papa's turn. Amidst wild protests, Anil agrees and soon has his face plastered with mashed banana and porridge!

Breakfast over, Sunita switches on some music and Sonam gyrates and moves her little body with a grace that would put any dancer to shame. Anil watches her and insists it is inherited talent, his of course. Sonam spots a brush and some make up lying on Mama's dressing table and decides to make-up her Papa. Anil soon starts looking like a red faced monkey.

The door bell peals shrilly and it is opened to let in a small whirlwind consisting of two cute little girls and a boy who bounce in boisterously and fling themselves at 'maasi' Sunita. They turn out to be her sister Kavita's three children -- Karan, Priya, and Nandini, who have come to spend the day with Sonam. Spying Sonam playing around, they let out a 'whoopee' and unabashedly hug and kiss both cousin Sonam and uncle Anil.

Some more horseplay and the kids pounce on Anil and plead with him to tell them a story. Cuddling all the four on the bed, Anil begins brightly "Once upon a time....." Before he proceeds further, he realizes Sonam has wandered off and is leaning precariously over the edge of the bed while Nandini is distracted by a toy piano lying around. It's impossible to make them sit still.

Little Sonam is a photographer's delight and not one bit camera conscious. She loves being photographed and breaks into an endearing toothless grin every time the bulbs flash. Cousin Priya had a whale of a time clicking Sonam who happily posed for it all. Sonam definitely was the star of the show and we bet she knew it too! No tears, sulks, or tantrums for her. She is a happy, bubbly, well behaved starry kid that obviously speaks of a doting father, and a caring mother who makes sure her love for her daughter is also tempered with a balanced degree of discipline that is so important.....

It's a day of fun, warmth and love, a day filled with precious moments that Anil tries to hold on to, even as they slip away. Like we said, special things happen only once in a while....

Mukta Hegde/Star & Style, Aug. 29th - Sept. 11th, 1986

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Pictures can be found here.