Opposites may attract, but this Rakhi, the adage holds no good as celeb sibling duos vouch for turning the law on its head! Sibling bonds are subjective yet special, though often unique. Aside of the relentless bickering, insane banter and mindless jabber; there’s a truth that remains the sibling rapport, irrespective of how wacky or courtly the equation, thrives on finding a common ground, while respecting the differences. In a candid chat, Bengaluru Chronicle features prominent city celebs with their familia comrades who speak about this special bond between a brother and sister!
“WE ARE JUST A LITTLE TOO SIMILAR... MORE THAN WE’D LIKE IT!”
“People always want to know how much we fight, and the unfortunate answer is not enough. We sort of share the same brain, which means we often end up saying the same thing at the same time, even in public,” quips Ambi Subramaniam, a new-age violin virtuoso, and son of legendary L. Subramaniam, elucidating about his rapport with sister and business partner Bindu Subramaniam. Bindu, on the other hand, believes they have reached the stage where we can manage disagreements easily. “Growing up, we had Narayana, our brother as the buffer, so we never really fought with each other. Now, it’s mostly about who feels more strongly about the issue at hand. If we don’t have a consensus, for SaPa related things, I can usually have deciding vote, and for SubraMania and performance things, Ambi gets to decide,” she says.
Bindu and Ambi
On the job, Ambi might call the shots, but off it, its his sister’s opinion that he banks on.
“She mostly decides what I wear though, and I give her life advice, which she usually won’t take,” adds Ambi.
“SHE SEALS THE DEAL WHEN IT COMES to SIGNIFICANT STUFF”
Danish Sait, artiste, radio presenter and actor believes that his older sister Kubbra often dons the parental hat. And it’s been a very enriching relationship, so far.
“"Unfortunately Kubbra and I are not at the same place, this Rakhi. We both are travelling. I'm off to Mumbai and she's elsewhere. My equation with Kubbra has been a mix of her being a parent and a sibling. Growing up, mum relied on her to ensure I completed my homework on time. Even now, she makes the bigger decisions. I’m more emotional so she helps me stay grounded and balances me out. Over the years, we’ve become really good friends.” Despite pursuing similar vocation, Kubbra believes it’s been a different journey for both of them. “We have have really diverse experiences and opportunities, but the similarity is we both have had gradual growth. Danish was the first person I called on seeing my hoarding (of the Sacred Games) in Mumbai. I believe we make an amazing team as he’s an incredible creator buzzing with 20 new ideas and I’m quite the executioner. Danish is an emotionally charged guy, but he’s also someone I call the first when I need to break news about anything. I ask him about tips on how to deal with fame, and he comes to me when he’s got a gnawing concern.”
“TRAVEL KEEPS US SANE”
City entrepreneur Nikhil Hegde is known for his affable demeanour and his social media handles are flooded with pictures with his sister Namratha. The fact that they are eerily alike, despite having chosen different professions, has only gotten them stronger over time. Speaking of sharing a common love for travel, Nikhil says, “Namratha and I have always had an inseparable bond especially when it comes to Raksha Bandhan. We ensure that we are at the same place every year and celebrate the same.
Nikhil and Namratha
Both of us have travelled the globe and learn a lot from each other and have a special bond as siblings.” Adding to how her being good at numbers has bolstered their equation on the professional front, Hegde adds, “She’s proficient with accounts and I work with creativity since inception. We’re almost a dream team I would say. This Raksha Bandhan is no different from any other, bringing us closer every year and the Rakhi is something that I wear as long as I can. Raksha Bandhan is a celebration between siblings, and has an energy that really facilitates a stronger relationship between them.”
