Bollywood actor Tusshar Kapoor has become a single father to a baby boy through In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy.
The baby boy has been named as laksshya. He was born last week through a medical procedure carried out under the supervision of the doctors at IVF and Genetics department of the Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, here.
Announcing his fatherhood, a thrilled 39-year-old Tusshar, who is still unmarried, said in a statement: “I proudly announce the arrival of my son, a baby boy, born last week through IVF and surrogacy. The baby, laksshya, is in excellent health. 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,” Tusshar said, thanking well-wishers for their blessings.
Talking separately media persons, Tusshar said: “My son looks exactly like me...I can't say how happy I am....my family is complete...father, mother, me, my sister and laksshya...I would be 40 this year and I decided that it was the right time to be a parent”.
Tusshar is the only son of yesteryear actor Jitendra and Shobha Kapoor and is the younger brother of Ekta Kapoor, the founder of Balaji Telefilms and Balaji Motion Pictures. Both Tusshar and Ekta (41) are unmarried.
Tusshar has been acting in films for 12 years now. Apart from being a part of Kyaa Kool Hain Hum and Golmaal comedy series, Tusshar has acted in films like Khakee (2004), Shootout at lokhandwala (2007), The Dirty Picture ( 2011), Shor in the City (2012) and Shootout at Wadala (2013).
The proud grandparents Jeetendra and Shobha Kapoor said in a statement: “We could not be more excited to be grandparents to laksshya, and are completely supportive of Tusshar’s decision. This is certainly a tremendous blessing, and an exciting time in our lives. Tusshar is a wonderful son, and he has proven, with responsibility, independence and kindness, that he will be a great father to laksshya”.
Dr Firuza Parikh heads the IVF and Genetics department of Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre and carried out the medical procedure.
: “ I am impressed with Tusshar’s determination to be a father. He maintained a keen interest in the baby’s health at every stage. He will surely be a sensitive and nurturing parent”.
“Recently, we have had many single men and women approved for parenthood. As a public figure, Tusshar’s brave and bold decision will open the field of assisted reproduction making it accessible to not just single parents, but also to many who fervently desire to have a baby,” Dr Parikh added.
Tusshar, a bachelor, may have become the first single father to a baby boy, but this is not for the first time that Bollywood personalities have opted for parenthood through surrogacy.
On December 1, 2011, actor Aamir Khan and his filmmaker-wife, Kiran Rao became proud parents of a baby boy born through surrogacy. They named their son as Azad.
Aamir and Kiran married in December 2005. Aamir has two other children -- Junaid and Ira -- from his first wife, Reena Dutta. It may be recalled that in 2009, Aamir-Kiran had lost a child because of miscarriage. They underwent in for a medical procedure involving IVF and surrogacy with Dr Firuza Parikh of the Jaslok Hospital.
On May 27, 2013, actor Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri became parents of son, AbRam, through IVF and surrogacy. At that time, the couple had two other children Aryan and Suhana, who are both teenagers now.
Shah Rukh and Gauri married in 1991. Dr Jatin P. Shah, an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) specialist, who runs the Mumbai Fertility Clinic and IVF Centre at August Kranti Maidan at Grant Road in south Mumbai, helped the couple become parents of a baby boy born through IVF and surrogacy. The couple had contemplated adoption but decided that surrogacy was the way to go after being advised some of their close friends.
