‘Mum’s my mentor’
My mother is my mentor who made me what I am today. She was always there when I was growing up. My dad was busy with his professional life and it was my mother who raised us and instilled a sense of discipline. She raised us like any other kid, even though dad was scaling heights professionally. She always believed that as children we should have a normal childhood and not get influenced by power. She is worldly wise and balanced both her responsibilities of managing a big family and raising my sister and I. Very loving, caring and still someone who often offers valuable advise and solace when needed. If I turn out to be half as good a parent as she is, I would be a proud father.”
— K.T. Rama Rao, IT minister
‘My mom saw the potential in me’
My mother took me more seriously than I did when I started playing badminton at summer camp, when I was nine. She saw the potential in me and wanted me to go to the Olympics and win a medal. I don’t know of too many moms who have such a clear vision for their children. Since then, she would accompany me to practice and help me out with tips (she was a state-lever player herself). When I was growing up, she made me eat the right food so I could get stronger. I am where I am today because of my mother.
— Saina Nehwal, badminton player
‘My mom is my biggest influence’
My mother Syamala Reddy has been one of the strongest influences in my life. Her life revolved around my sister and I. I remember she was always very particular about our studies and made sure that we got the best of education. While growing up, my father was usually away on business meetings and my mum was the one who was always around and so we’re closer to her. Even today, she prepares my favourite food and sends it across. She is one of the strongest women I know and she has played a very important role in shaping my life.
— G.V. Prasad, CEO of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories
She steers our lives
I’m close to both my parents. But it’s a different equation with my mom. My father is more of a friend. I share a more traditional mother-son relationship with my mother. It’s very hard to differentiate between the two, but there’s a difference between my relationships with the two. At the peak of her career she chose to give up working so she could look after our home. I don’t think a single important decision in our home is taken without Ma’s approval. We all rely on her judgment. It’s hard to imagine what we’d do if she wasn’t around to steer our lives. I haven’t worked that much with her. She played my mom in a Bengali movie and in Drona. She is a fantastic actor.”
— Abhishek Bachchan, (actor – producer)
Care and prayers
I would describe care and prayers as two key words on this Mother’s Day. Whatever we, Sachin in particular, have achieved is due to her. She had never watched Sachin bat at the ground except during his farewell Test (against West Indies, Mumbai in 2013), where she came on Sachin’s insistence at the Wankhede Stadium. She came there on all three days of the Test. I was in the stands with my friends. Sachin ran a single and suddenly the people stood on their feet, clapping. Sachin had not even reached 50 and I was very surprised. But few minutes later I realised the clapping was for our mother, who was seen on a large screen praying.
— Ajit Tendulkar (Sachin’s brother)
We needed each other
My mother has always been my pillar. I lived and spent time with her while my father was working in another country. She has had tough times in her life but she never let it show. My morning tiffin would be ready before school and many a times she was unwell, on medication and still she would drop me to school. I know her hardships, and I love her to death. We just can’t say it to each other. But we do. And we know. I have always shared an interesting friendship with my mom. A friendship that had a lot of distance between us. We speak less and I like to think we love each other more than the words between us.
— Ali Fazal, actor
