Celebs share their Raksha Bandhan stories

Rajul Hegde caught up with a host of TV stars and got them to share their special memories and plans for Raksha Bandhan tomorrow.

First up, National Award-winning actress of Dahan fame Rituparna Sengupta shares her thoughts:

'It truly signified the close brother-sister bond'

My best Rakhi dates back to a few years ago, when my brother was in Bangalore for work. I had couriered the rakhi to him and he had sent me lovely bangles and Bangalore silks (which I absolutely loved -- all of my favorite colours).

What was incredible was that both of us received our respective couriers on the same day, at about the same time and we were both overjoyed -- it truly signified the close brother-sister bond we enjoy

This year I will be in Mumbai shooting and hence will have to celebrate it long distance.

Here Aarti Singh, who plays Mugdha in the series Thoda Hai Bas Thode Ki Zaroorat Hai shares her plans:

I am taking an off on Rakhi. It is a special day for both of us, because we get less time to be with each other. We are going to celebrate Rakhi in a very big way because it's auspicious for us.

I have many cousins but I make it a point to first tie a rakhi to my brother Krushna Abhishek. He is very lazy and doesn't wake up on time, so we end up fighting on every Raksha Bandhan because I am very particular about the muhurat.

Ours is a very big family, normally we all get together and have lunch at Mama's (actor Govinda) place. Like every year, this year also we are planning to have lunch there. But I am planning to take my brother out for dinner. At least I will get some quality time to spend with him.

For the last few years I have been fighting with my brother to give me a better gift. Last year he surprised me with a white Swift car. This year I am planning to gift him an iPod.

Sachin Sharma of Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii weighs in:

The most memorable Raksha Bandhan was when my sister paid me a surprise visit to Mumbai in 2008. It's tough to be away from family and her surprise visit definitely was the best ever.

I had gifted my sister a trip to London last year for Rakhi and am regretting it now as she is expecting it this year too -- just kidding!

This year, because of work commitments I will not be able to go to Delhi and my sister is busy with her work so there are no chances of her surprise visit. But she has sent me a rakhi through the mail and I am still excited because she always sends a chocolate one for me.

Next, actress Shama Sikander of Yeh Meri Life Hai and Seven fame tells us:

As Muslims we didn't celebrate Rakhi, but I was always fascinated by the concept. I now have a rakhi brother, to whom I send rakhis since he lives abroad. The most memorable Rakhi was when he was going through a tough time and was not in touch. I had dropped by on Rakhi and he was extremely pleased to see me. It was wonderful to see the smile on his face and the joy of the occasion made him forget the harrowing time he was having.

That was undoubtedly the most memorable Rakhi. This year I have asked him to come down to Mumbai. It will be wonderful if he can make it here, else I will send him a rakhi as always.

Pavitra Rishta's Sushant Singh Rajput says:

I have four sisters -- the amount of sweets I get force-fed on Rakhi is too much! I always thought I'd turn diabetic with the amount of laddoos and kaju katris and halwa that was thrust down my throat.

This year will probably be the first year I won't be home for Rakhi, so I'm going to feel rather nostalgic. As a kid, I was rather scared of the day. After all it's any boy's nightmare to have pretty girls come up and tie you a rakhi! (smiles)

Mahi Vij, who acts in the dramas of Shubh Kadam and Laagi Tujhse Lagan had this to say:

I don't have a brother, but I celebrate Rakhi with my cousins. One is in Mumbai while the other one is in Kanpur. Both are planning to come to my place in Mumbai for Rakhi. This year it's going to be special because all my relatives are also coming to Mumbai for a family function.

From my childhood I have been tying a rakhi to my father. I have always got wonderful gifts from Dad for Raksha Bandhan.

When I was very young, my father bought me a beautiful Cinderella dress. And a couple of years ago he gave me a gold anklet. Wearing gold on your feet is considered inauspicious, but my father bought it for me because I had a wish to wear it. We normally shop, watch films and go out to dinner on Rakhi.

My cousins are big losers, so they don't give me any gifts on Rakhi. When I ask them for one, they always tell me that I should be giving them the gifts because they take care of me!

Here is Kaisa Yeh Pyar Hai and Sanjog se Bani Sangini actor Mohammad Iqbal Khan's take on Raksha Bandhan:

We don't traditionally celebrate Raksha Bandhan at home but I have two rakhi sisters. Producer Ratna Sinha has tied me one for the last two years and we share a warm rapport.

Another close friend who I've always looked up to as a sister is Kismet Ahluwalia, a journalist with NDTV Profit, based out of New York. Not a single year has gone by that she hasn't sent me a rakhi.

When I was much younger in school, I had a lot of girls tying me rakhis but as we grew up, we grew out of that habit too somehow.

Shubhangi Atre of Kasturi and Do Hanson Ka Joda fame takes the occasion seriously:

I am taking an off on Rakhi, I have informed my production house in advance. I am planning to go to Indore (my hometown). I tie a rakhi to my dad and brothers-in-law. I have a very big family and have many cousins. I tie a rakhi to all of my cousins too.

When I was in Class XII, I wanted to buy a (two-wheeler) Scooty which had just launched. My dad bought it for me on Rakhi -- that was the most memorable one. The second-best would be the time my jiju gifted me a branded vanity kit from London, when I had just started my acting career. It was so helpful that I really thanked him for it.

Another time that's unforgettable is from a few years ago, when I had gone to my sister's place in Baroda for Raksha Bandhan. I prepared sweets with salt instead of sugar powder!

Like every year, this Rakhi too I am expecting some lovely gifts from my dad and jijus (smiles). We normally celebrate Rakhi at home, then go out shopping and watch films.

Kritika Sengar, who has starred in Kasauti Zindagi Ki and Jhansi Ki Rani says:

I have a brother who is six years younger to me and I have always bullied him. I am sure I'll continue to do so until we both are really old!

There was this one time when we were both very young and I was standing on the edge of a cliff. It was not at a great height, thankfully, just about 12 feet and my brother playfully kicked me off and I ended up hurting myself. He kept crying until I got better because he felt really guilty. Strangely, we bonded over this incident a lot and grew closer.

In all my tiffs with my parents, he always stands by me. He stays in Delhi at the moment but since I'll have no break from the shoot schedule this year, he'll come and join me in Mumbai.

And finally, Na Aana Iss Desh Laado actor Aditya Redij shares:

My sister Jhanki has been my friend, mentor, inspiration and conscience. I remember one incident on Raksha Bandhan -- I asked her why I always had to give her gifts. Since then, she has been gifting me each year on Rakhi. The best gift that I ever got from my sister was my very first camera. It was about 6 years ago, when digital cameras were one of the most sought-after gadgets. So in a way I can say she is the one who bought photography into my life.