I’m Pregnant! So What!?

Times On Wheels, Lead Story

Actresses are no longer cagey about announcing their pregnancies. Career and motherhood go hand-in-hand for them

There was a great deal of suspicion that Madhuri Dixit-Nene was expecting a child. But we now give you the official and final word on the subject. The stork is indeed visiting the Nene household. The actress who ruled the Mumbai film marquee in the 1990s is two-month’s pregnant with their first child.
The Mumbai skyline is suddenly filled with several storks, busy delivering babies in celebrity homes. Some time ago, actress Twinkle Khanna gave birth to a baby boy at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital. The baby boy has been named Araav, which means peace. Twinkle however, hopes to continue her career after she becomes a mother.
Malaika Arora-Khan too has become a mother of a baby boy. The model will be seen on December 6 in the much-anticipated ‘Kaante’ doing several dances. After Twinkle Khanna-Kumar, Malaika Arora-Khan, actress-anchor Renuka Shahane has turned to be in the ‘family way.’ Renuka, who was all geared up to make her debut as a director this year, has now shelved her plans after giving birth to her bundle of joy earlier this month.
With so many celeb-moms around, Madhuri has not really shaken the filmi-industry with her pregnancy. But her filmi career is on pause mode for a while. Madhuri said she will be giving birth to a child sometime in April next year. She will, however, not be staying back in India for delivery of the baby. “I do wish to stay here. But, apart from the fact that I would want my child to be a citizen of the US, its more important to be with my husband at a precious time like this. I would want him to be around all the time.”
Then what happens to her filmi career? There is not much more left to achieve as far as attaining popularity is concerned. It is time to take it easy, and choose the right roles. She informs that Neena Gupta and Rituparno Ghosh have offered her with very tempting roles. But all those offers are put on hold. “If they (producers) can wait, its fine by me. I cant this of doing films for two years at least.”
“I myself had a wonderful childhood,” recalls Madhuri, when questioned on child-care. “We didn’t grow up too fast. The simple pleasure of going down to play is fast disappearing. Children have almost no physical activity.” So, she knows what to do when her kids are born. Send them to play!

Jago Zara

Times of India >> Dombivli Kalyan Plus >> People Tree
The students of Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) of K V Pendharkar College, Dombivli had been organising various seminars and meetings aimed at creating awareness about various social evils in society. This time they felt, as responsible citizens, they ought to bring to light the skills of physically and mentally challenged persons. Marginalized by the society and labelled as worthless and a burden, the students realised that challenged persons from many organisations in and around Dombivli were engaged in productive work and contributing their but to the society.
The class decided to organise a meet to draw attention to the plight of challenged persons to make an impact in the society. That is when the idea of Jagruti, meaning ‘awakening’ took ground. Jagruti was a recent two-day exhibition cum sale held by students of BMS of K V Pendharkar College, Dombivli in their college campus. The event was inaugurated by Manish Karlekar, employment officer in National Association for Blind (NAB). It showcased products made by physically and mentally challenged students from various institutes such as Sadichcha, Rotary School for Deaf and Astitva.
Deepali Bhosale, a member of the organising committee said, “These children enjoy interacting with other normal people.”
Sadichcha is a rehabilitation center for mentally challenged people, which teaches these students specialised skills that help them gain financial independence. They are trained to embroider napkins, make gift items, greeting cards and candles under supervision of the teachers. The Rotary School for Deaf follows the 3A’s: Awareness, Acceptance and Achievement to educate and rehabilitate deaf children. “They can easily lip-read if you talk clearly. Some of them can even speak a few sentences after many sessions of practise,” explained a supervisor from the school.
Besides the products which were displayed for sale, the students had also made posters which showed how hearing impaired children should be treated – as a part of society. The theme showcased was ‘We need love, not pity.’ Astitva, another institution dedicated to the upliftment of the handicapped, trains mentally disabled children. The students learn to make paper bags, liquid soaps, candles, dusters and food items.
Lauding their efforts V N Kulkarni, principal of the college said, “Our college has always encouraged students to organise events which contribute to society. It is our duty to encourage physically and mentally challenged persons.”
The exhibition generated overwhelming response and people donated generously towards various causes.