Mumbai: Raksha Bandhan is a celebration of sibling love, but for Mohammed Nagaman Lateef, Talent Head at Balaji Telefilms and founder of the International Iconic Awards, the festival is also about the special relationships he has built over the years. While he does not have a biological sister, Mohammed considers several women in his life as his sisters and looks forward to celebrating the occasion with them.
Talking about the people who tie Rakhi to him, Mohammed said, “I don’t have my own sister, but I have many sisters who tie Rakhi to me every year. Rupali Ganguly is one of them. She is going to tie Rakhi to me, and just the other day, she was looking for a Rakhi for me. Shiny is also very special to me. When she was doing Pandya Store, that was when she tied Rakhi to me for the first time.”
He further revealed that his bond extends beyond the entertainment industry. “Mala, who is the Senior Vice President of ZEE5, also ties Rakhi to me. I have other friends outside the industry who tie Rakhi to me as well. Nicky Verma is someone I consider my own sister. Ever since I came to Mumbai, she has been the one who ties Rakhi to me first. These people are extremely important in my life,” he shared.
Mohammed also recalled a hilarious yet memorable incident involving Shiny from the early days of his life in Mumbai. “Shiny came to my house, which was my first house in Mumbai. She came in her red car, but there was no parking space. She came screaming from downstairs! It was such a memorable moment. I had to do the aarti, but I couldn’t even find a lamp. That was probably one of the funniest moments we have shared,” he recalled.
For Mohammed, sibling relationships are also about learning from one another. “Rupali always teaches me a lot about life, and Shiny also teaches me many things. I really value the lessons I learn from the people I consider my sisters,” he said.
For Mohammed, sibling relationships are also about learning from one another. “Rupali always teaches me a lot about life, and Shiny also teaches me many things. I really value the lessons I learn from the people I consider my sisters,” he said.
While he may not have a biological sister, Mohammed shares a warm bond with his cousin sister, Nasira, as well. “I have a cousin sister, Nasira, and we share a very good bond. She is educated and mature enough to understand things and always feels happy for everything that happens in my life,” he added.
As Raksha Bandhan approaches, Mohammed’s plans are refreshingly simple. “I want to be at home. I want to celebrate Rakhi with my sisters and enjoy the day. I like the idea of having my sister protect me too,” he concluded.
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