Following the kidnap attempt on Sajid Nadiadwala’s children from their school, B-Town parents have hit the panic button. A lot of actors’ children go to the same school as the Nadiadwala kids. Sons and daughters of actors are more in the limelight and following the recent incident, many celeb parents have become jittery. The Mumbai police has asked celebrities not to pose with their children, and have also told them to request the media not to use photographs of the children in newspapers and magazines as it makes them more vulnerable. Most parents are now scared about sending the children anywhere without them. Given that most of the actors are constantly travelling, it is not possible to always be present, and most of them rely on trusted staff members to look after their little ones. But last year it was Nadiadwala’s trusted security person who held a gun to his temple, as his children slept in the adjoining bedroom. Here, actors talk about the new fear that is gripping them:
Keep away media
Most B-Towners are now shielding their kids from the prying eyes of the paparrazi. Some have decided to put an end even to red carpet events like walking the ramp with their famous parents for a charitable cause that their kids make once in a while. Actress Mini Mathur, however, feels that kids being in public eye has anything to do with threat to their security, “I make sure that they don’t go for all events with me, sometimes it can’t be avoided. The point is not to avoid them being seen in public, but about reducing exposure to strangers.”
Beefing up security
Some parents have now gotten security for their children. Many have hired security guards while others have asked for police protection. Raveena Tandon says that though the Nadiadwala incident has shocked her, she hasn’t hired added security for the kids, “I have not added bodyguards but we are making sure that everyone is alert about security and it’s not being compromised at any level. It’s not normal for kids to move around with bodyguards, but both Anil and I are alert of where the kids are and with whom at any given point in time.”
Off to school
Parents are now ensuring that they are dropping and picking up their children from school themselves, rather than relying on anyone else. Raveena reveals that one of the family members always accompanies her kids to school, “Nowadays you can’t even trust the security.”
Accompanying the kids
According to B-Town mothers, the incident has certainly made them take stock of their kids’ outings. Where they go, and with whom is being more closely monitored now. A star kid recently flew to London for the One Direction concert, without the parents but under the cover of security and trusted staff members.
Safety at school
Many A-listers have gotten in touch with the authorities at their children’s schools and asked them to tighten security on their premises. They have also asked to be updated on how the school is caring about their kids’ safety. All praise for the alert school authorities, both Raveena and Mini add that the schools being alert is important but it’s equally important for the kids to understand it.
Social networking
The famous parents have been talking about not offering any information about their children, or share their pictures online. They will be cagey about posting pictures of their birthday party -- proud grandfather Amitabh Bachchan has posted a picture of Aradhaya’s first birthday. You will no longer be treated to pictured of your idol’s vacations with their kids. Most actors refused to even talk about their children when contacted for this article. Who can blame them? It is the need of the hour.
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