In a recent incident that brought into focus the unpredictable nature of pet ownership, Twinkle Khanna, former actress and now an acclaimed writer, shared an account of how her young daughter, Nitara, experienced an unfortunate encounter with the family’s pet dog, Freddie. Khanna, who is married to Akshay Kumar, one of Bollywood’s most versatile actors, wrote candidly about the ordeal in her column for the Times Of India – an experience that shed light on her daughter’s remarkable composure and compassion.
During the Christmas season, a seemingly harmless moment transformed into a distressing one when a plate of chicken satay was inadvertently placed in front of the children, Aarav and 11-year-old Nitara, at a time when Freddie was nearby. The pet dog, driven by instinct, lunged at the plate and began devouring the chicken, potentially harming himself with the wooden skewers. Without hesitation, young Nitara, motivated by concern for Freddie, attempted to remove the skewers from his mouth. In the ensuing struggle, Freddie, not meaning to cause harm, bit Nitara on both hands.
Following the incident, Nitara was administered three shots for rabies prevention and one for tetanus, a routine yet crucial medical protocol for such occurrences. Remarkably, her reaction post-treatment was one of understanding and forgiveness towards Freddie. Khanna quotes her daughter, “It was an accident. He didn’t mean to bite me, and it doesn’t matter as long as Freddie is fine.” She amusingly compares her daughter’s forgiving nature to what the outcome might have been had she, the mother, been the one to bite her by accident – a scenario poised to become a topic of discussion in hypothetical therapy sessions two decades down the line.
In addition to sharing her family’s personal stories, Khanna also provides insights into her life transitions from film to literature and academia. After appearing in a modest number of Hindi films, she found her calling in writing. Khanna published her debut book, ‘Mrs Funnybones’, and has since built a formidable body of work including ‘The Legend Of Lakshmi Prasad’ and ‘Pyjamas Are Forgiving’. Her literary journey has paved the way for her most recent book, ‘Welcome To Paradise’.
Yet, her pursuit of personal growth has not been confined to authorship alone. Twinkle Khanna has also added academia to her list of accomplishments, having recently graduated from Goldsmiths University in London. She evoked the emotion of her graduation day through a video post, capturing the confluence of relief, joy, and familial pride. Reflecting on the challenges of coordinating logistics for her studies – a task usually reserved for the parents of younger students – she embraced her role as chief organiser, tackling everything from helping her daughter adjust to new schools and countries, to managing her writing responsibilities and establishing a home base abroad.
Khanna’s journey is indicative of a contemporary multidimensional woman who seamlessly strides across different spheres of professional and personal life. Her daughter, Nitara’s mature and empathetic handling of the incident with Freddie has also caught the admiration of readers and highlights the family’s grounded approach to life’s unpredictable turns.
In sharing this slice of life, Twinkle Khanna has not only offered a glimpse into the challenges and rewards present within her own family but has also touched upon broader themes of compassion, resilience, and growth that resonate with a wide audience. As Nitara learns from the unexpected bite, and Twinkle from the halls of academia, the family narrative continues to unfold, offering inspiration and anecdotes to many.
