Tusshar Kapoor turns daddy!

The Mastizaade actor is the first in B’town to turn to IVF and surrogacy to fulfil his dream of becoming a single father

It’s a baby boy!” That’s what resounded in the Kapoor household, when actor Tusshar Kapoor became a dad to little Laksshya, his baby boy born last week through IVF and surrogacy. It is only on Monday though, that Tusshar broke the news to the world. This is the first time that any single, male member of Bollywood has had a baby through IVF.

Naturally, the young father is over the moon about the latest addition to the Kapoor family. He says, “I am thrilled to be a father! The paternal instincts in me have been overpowering my heart and mind for some time now. I am thrilled beyond words to have Laksshya, who is 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.”

Proud grandparents, Shobha and Jeetendra Kapoor shared the excitement and said, “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.”

Elder sister Ekta Kapoor had in an earlier interview said that she’d love to adopt a baby even if she had her own. But for now, she’s enjoying her role as an aunt. Tusshar says, “Ekta is too excited. She is a June baby and so is my son; so Ekta says that he’s my twin. Naming him Laksshya was her idea. My parents, Ekta and I are the caretakers. I will not reveal the date of birth, but he came home a week ago. Let him get healthier, I will make you meet him.”

Does he share more with the little one than the double ‘s’ in their names “He looks like me, so I am very happy,” Tusshar says.

For Tusshar, this was a decision he had been contemplating for a long time. He says, “It’s been my wish to become a father for a long time. I am 40 and I wanted to be a single parent. I didn’t want to adopt, so I went ahead with this. I was mentally prepared for it when I met my doctor last year. I owe my fatherhood to my doctor. Now that I have Laksshya, my family is complete.”

Speaking of his doctor, Dr. Firuza Parikh, Director of IVF and Genetics at the Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre is mighty impressed by Tusshar’s determination to be a father and believes he’ll make for a great 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 looks at it as a very positive trend. “I think being a single parent has its set of advantages, unlike what people assume. The parent has to be emotionally and psychologically strong to take such a decision. We have always had women coming to us when they wanted babies but did not want to get married. But over the past 3-4 years, we’ve been having a lot of singles men coming in as well.”