Khushboo's Dil Se...

Nakhat, now Khushboo was strong willed even when she was a child. There is nothing artificial about her. With great looks, an exciting career that she excels in, an adoring husband and two children, her going in life at 35 is awesome. Career-wise, she is the strongest and most competent female actor in the history of south Indian cinema. Most heroines are either trapped in the rut willfully or are incapable of finding a way out due to sheer mediocrity but Khushboo has held her ground even in tumultuous times. With her many films and friends, she has already made her presence felt as an actress and a human being who symbolizes quality and is miles ahead of the majority. Kushboo's energy, passion and fervent enthusiasm for things are startling as she talks about a rare person she has met in life. Spend a few minutes with the lady and you know she has a sense of accomplishment when people are happy.

Y. Sunita Chowdhary

You come across certain people whom you never knew in life but you just connect. In this serial Kalki, there is Vivek who acts as my husband. His family has influenced my thinking, changed my life and redefined my identity. In the process, I have re-discovered myself, beyond that of just being a daughter, mother and wife. My four day stay with them has given me a sense of security and belonging. When I was going through the controversy and when a non bailable warrant was issued, I didn't know where to go. The media and cops were hounding me. I stayed at Vivek's place for four days. I couldn't see Sunder for four or five days.

My kids had to attend school and Vivek was dropping and picking them up and took great pains to see none would follow us. The family was of great support and since my father wasn't around I could connect easily with uncle, Vivek's dad. There was so much happiness and positive vibes in their family and it was like being part of those feel-good Sooraj Bharjatya's films. There are about sixty cousins in the family and are always looking for occasion to celebrate. Myself and the kids felt comfy at their place and they never bothered that I am an actress. I have known uncle for two years now and he was from the Army. They were from Rajhamundry.

They are totally inclined to music and all you needed was an excuse to break into a song and dance. There would be surprise parties too. I became very attached to them. Those days I would wake up early and make tea for all of them. I would wake up uncle too. One day he smiled and said "I don’t want anything in life, this is enough, my daughter waking me up and giving me tea." What a bliss it is! I saw a father, uncle and above all a friend in Mr. Rajan. Uncle would call me Kush. We played cards most of the time and would have mock fights. My kids would spend hours on the computer with him. He was a wonderful cook too. One day my children wanted chocolate bread and there wasn't any chocolate at home and he took pains to go out and buy Cadburys, melt them and pour it over the bread for them. It was a huge house with just four of them staying, Vivek, his younger brother Vinod and aunty.

I could share anything with Rajan uncle. It's not that he supported me always. He was very critical. When I would have a fight with Sunder he would reason it out. He was very well versed, practical and balanced man. They had value for money and never shopped unnecessarily. They all lived in Rajhamundry earlier. They had a huge house and during the floods in 86 they'd lost everything. Vivek was a model when I met him. He is a very well behaved person. It was his dream to send his parents abroad for a holiday and last September it was fulfilled. They had gone on a two week trip to Malaysia and Singapore. When Vivek wanted to buy a flat, Rajan uncle told him that it's very important that Kush likes it first. I didn't like it and eventually they moved into a bungalow. On December third last year, there was an open house at school and I had to go pick my daughters at 11 am. I asked them what they intended to do and they wanted to have rasam, sadam and appalam for lunch. I called uncle and told that my kids were coming home. We reached Rajan uncle's home at 12. The kids eat and played with their 'tata'. He slept at around 6.30 as he looked fatigued and was awake the entire day. Vivek said he was taking him for a check up as uncle was feeling uneasy. I had to leave that evening and before I left I told uncle to cheer up. He gave me a warm smile and said he was fine and he'll come back. He sat in the living room and told me to bring the kids back the next day too.

Vivek rang me around 8.30 pm and said uncle was still sick and he was rushing him to the hospital. I called Vivek at 10.30 and he told me that uncle was at ICU, he was critical. I woke up Sunder and rushed to the hospital, was there till 12 30. I then came back, slept late and felt very uneasy. Around 4 am I called Vijju (Vivek) to find about his dad's condition. He said there are just three left in the family. Dad's gone. It hit me so hard. Just before I called he passed away. It was a massive heart attack. He had had two earlier. Uncle was 64. I woke up Sunder and told him I was going to the hospital. Rajan uncle and aunty were married for 38 yrs. He wouldn't go anywhere without her. I then went home, I knew his body was coming home. When she enquired i just told 'he is comming amma.'

When uncle's body came I never let anyone touch, i didn't even let a fly sit on him, on the glass. I had seen Vivek lighting the pyre. I saw him going in, being exhumed and after two hours his ashes were given to us. It was terrible. I just can't express how i felt. We still have those family gatherings and we miss him so much. We don't cry, uncle wouldn't have liked it. In fact we celebrated new year. I know Vivek and his likes and dislikes. Vivek is getting married this year on july 12. I browsed the net, found a girl, showed him the picture, he liked her and he got engaged on the 4th may. She is a very nice girl, level headed and just what Vivek wanted. When Vivek met her he told her that he wanted somebody for his family first. Uncle passed way on the 4th december, he said he was going to find a girl within 3 months. Somewhere i felt uncle has given me the responsibility. I wanted someone to take care of aunty.

For the three of us, the first priority was aunty. I share a very emotional bond with her. She is very dependent on me. When she is angry with Vivek and Vinod, she will shout at me and I'll know something has gone wrong. You meet someone like Rajan uncle and suddenly they go, you wonder what this stardom, money, fame and life is all about. I look up into the sky when I miss him, I remember his last smile. The children are too young to understand that tata is no more. When they see the picture they do ask about him and yes, there are no flowers on the picture. Aunty is very sentimental. I have no memories of my own father but Rajan uncle has filled the void. I still have 'daddy''s number on by mobile.

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