Surrogacy, dad’s the way!

Jasmine Singh

Little souls find their way to you, whether they are from your womb, or someone else's-this is something that American singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow had to say when she spoke about surrogacy. And now, one little has found its way into Bollywood Tusshar Kapoor's life. He fathered a baby boy Laksshya through surrogacy. 

Tusshar and his entire family are ecstatic, as Tusshar's parents Jeetendra and Shobha Kapoor are supportive of his decision. Surrogacy is definitely not a new word for Bollywood, Hollywood or for the entertainment industry at large. Celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Ricky Martin, Nicole Kidman have opted for surrogacy, and are enjoying the souls in their lives. One wonders how many celebrities would take up the option of becoming a single parent given that medical scenario in this field has improved drastically. 

Being a single parent 

The professional commitments of celebrities leave them little time to think about starting a family. Even though surrogacy seems to provide an answer, the option doesn't get thumbs-up from one and all. 

• Actors in real life are glamorous slaves. We are bonded to agreements but we too have the urge to have a family. Thanks to surrogacy, we can live up to our dreams. I support surrogacy, but I personally would go for a normal family life. Sonali Raut, actress
• It's a brave thing to do for anyone. I don't think I have the courage to do a thing like this. Anshul Trivedi, TV actor
• I won't go for becoming single parent, rather I will adopt. Saurabh Pandey, actor

Parenting a miracle

As for Tusshar, the baby is nothing short of a miracle. "I am 40 and I really wanted to be a father and my family was overjoyed with my decision. I wanted to be a single parent. So, my doctor helped me. I am thrilled to be a father! The paternal instincts in me have been overpowering my heart and mind for some time now. Therefore, I am thrilled beyond words to have Laksshya, now the greatest source of joy in my life. By the greatness of God and the excellent medical team at Jaslok, parenthood is an option for many, who choose to be single parents." He adds, "I didn't wanted to adopt and Prakash Jha was the one who made me aware of this option. My son looks like me. Ekta's birthday also falls in June. So, she is very excited and has named the baby as Laksshya."

Hollywood too

• Sex In the City star Sara Jessica Parker and her husband and Matthew Broderick had twin daughters through a surrogate mother in 2009. Sarah, 48, and Broderick, 51, already had a ten-year-old son. They named their daughters Marion Loretta Elwell and Tabitha Hodge.
• The handsome footballer Cristiano Ronaldo allegedly hired a mystery Mexican woman to be the surrogate mother of his son Cristiano Jr. 
• Pop icon Michael Jackson's third child was conceived through IVF with his sperm and was born on February 21, 2002 at the Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, near San Diego in Southern California. The surrogate mother of Prince Michael II better known as 'Blanket', is a Mexican nurse whom the pop star selected after a long search.
• Hollywood actor Neil Patrick Harris and his partner David Burtka welcomed twins Gideon and Harper via a surrogate mother in 2010.
• Singer Ricky Martin raises six-year-old twin boys Matteo and Valentino, who were born using a surrogate.
• Robert De Niro and his 58-year-old wife, Grace Hightower, welcomed a healthy baby girl named Helen Grace Hightower through a surrogate mother in 2011.

They did it

• When the choice is to either go childless or IVF surrogacy, there is no room for doubt. I was 43 when I had my kids and my biological clock had stopped ticking long time back. — Director Farah Khan 
• Amidst all the noise that has been going around, the sweetest is the one made by our new born baby. He was born prematurely by several months, but has finally come home. —  Shah Rukh Khan when AbRam was born
• The baby is especially dear to us because he was born to us after a long wait and some difficulty. We are advised to have a baby through IVF surrogacy, and we are grateful to the almighty that all has gone well. — Aamir Khan when Azad was born

On screen

• Way back in 1983 director Lekh Tandon made Doosri Dulhan.  This was a film about a childless couple played by Victor Bannerjee and Sharmila Tagore.
• Director Onir also made a film on surrogate motherhood I Am Afia. Shares the director, "Surrogacy is science's gift to humanity. A wonderful possibility for parents who cannot have a baby because of complications. They can bear children that another woman can harbour and nurture, thereby making parenthood possible to many who otherwise might not have been able to experience it."
• Abbas-Mustan's Chori Chori Chupke Chupke starring Salman Khanm, Rani Mukherjee and Preity Zinta was based on surrogacy.