Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar Patcy N in Mumbai
A week after she delivered a baby girl, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was discharged from a Mumbai hospital on Tuesday. As soon as she and her family reached home, the Bachchans called a press conference at their office ABC Corp in Juhu, a western suburb in Mumbai.
Amitabh thanked the media for giving them their privacy. He said, "You had promised that you would stay away and you did that. My family is grateful to you. It was a very private moment for the family."
Amitabh added, "Today, we brought betiya home. We are very happy. Hamare ghar Laxmi aayi hai, Abhishek, Aishwarya and betiya are all well and in good health. Life changes when a new life comes to your house. I would say Laxmi Ratna has arrived in our house."
Beti B was first taken to their old house Pratiksha. "We first took her to Pratiksha because that is our first home. After taking blessings from my ma and babuji (Amitabh's parents), we have come to Jalsa," Amitabh said.
Did they take the baby to a temple? Abhishek replied, "We have a small mandir in Pratiksha, built by my grandfather. That was the first place we took her."
So how does the child look? "I think the child looks like Aishwarya but as you know, a child's face changes everyday. Still, I want to believe that she has Aishwarya's face," Amitabh said. "But a few people in the house believe that there is some resemblance with Abhishek."
Has being a parent changed Abhishek? 'It has not even been a week, so there hasn't been any changes," Abhishek replied. I think if I am half as good a father to my daughter as my father has been to my sister and myself, I will be happy."
'We haven't thought of any name yet'
Abhishek said that they hadn't thought of a new yet. In fact, he was still asking for suggestions.
"Abhishek and Aishwarya want the name to start with the letter 'A'. Abhishek and me tweeted about it, and now we're getting so many names," Amitabh said.
When asked about the child's naming ceremony, Amitabh said, "There is no celebration or any special occasion for naming the child. We will just a select a name and keep it. I know people have naming ceremonies for their kids but we never had anything like that for our kids nor do we believe that it should be done."
Abhishek added, "My grandfather did not believe in this. He always said that if you get a good name, keep it. You don't need celebrations for that."
Amitabh gave the whole account of what happened: "Ashiwarya got admitted on November 14, as the doctor said the child could be born any time now. The baby was delivered on 16th morning. We were all at the hospital. It was a normal delivery just as Aishwarya wanted. I want to compliment her because she bore the pain for three hours. She was in acute labour but still she did not go for epidural or painkiller."
'Aishwarya is very tired but she is very happy'
Jaya Bachchan wanted a daughter and a daughter is born, but she is not to be seen anywhere. Amitabh replied, "Jaya has given all her time to the child and she is very happy that a daughter has been born. Abhishek also wanted a daughter. I have said I don't mind anything happening, just let it happen. That's it."
Would Abhishek be able to spend enough time with the baby since he has a busy acting career? "I am a child of two actors. They did not have any problem spending time with me. I don't remember any occasion, any school play, any sporting day that my father and mother were not there for me," Abhishek replied. "I never felt that void or vacuum when I was growing up. I will get very good training from the best (points to his father). So I think I will be able to cope."
Abhishek then added that Aishwarya was very tired, but happy. "The best blessing a child can get is that the whole family is together -- my parents and my in-laws. All the four grandparents gave the child blessings."
After the press conference, Aishwarya came down to give the media a glimpse of herself. She was looking radiant and beautiful as ever.
'My daughter allows me to sleep at night'
On how much time Amitabh would spend with the baby, he said, "I am jobless now as my (television) show Kaun Banega Crorepati is over. I don't have any movies in hand, so I will have lots of time to spend with my granddaughter."
Abhishek said, "I will be at work from tomorrow. I am busy promoting Players, which releases on January 6. Then, the film shoots will start."
Does his daughter cry at night? Abhishek replied, "My daughter allows me to sleep at night. She is very sweet and obedient. She does not make any fuss, and does not cry much. She is very quiet. She is behaving very well."
Has the news that he is a father sunk in yet? Abhishek said: "I am still getting used to being referred to as dad. Whenever anyone refers to me as Pa in the papers, I first think they are talking about my dad. So yes, it is going to take for me to get used to being referred to as a father because for me, there is only one Pa -- and that's my father."
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