Sharayu Sonawane, Paru
My brother’s name is Siddhant Sonawane, and we are twins. There’s an 8-minute gap between us, and he’s the older one. Everyone at home calls me the ‘youngest.’ Our bond is such that if I fell sick, he would too; if I got hurt, he would also feel the pain, even though we didn’t live together. Since we were one year old, he has been living with our grandparents. Because we grew up apart, we never really fought. I might get angry at him sometimes, but he never does. All we have between us is love—no stories of fights or arguments. We never needed to look for friends outside because we always had each other. For us, Raksha Bandhan is a symbol of our bond, but even if we don’t celebrate it, our relationship and feelings remain unchanged. I’m currently shooting in Satara, far from Mumbai, but if I get a break, I’ll happily go home and celebrate Raksha Bandhan. We never really give each other advice, but we both believe in not being dependent on anyone, continuing to work hard, and living with self-respect.
Hrishikesh Shelar, Tula Shikvin Changlach Dhada
My sisters are 14-15 years older than me, but our relationship is very sweet. The special thing about our bond is that I don’t have any biological sisters—both are cousins—but they are closer to me than real sisters could ever be. They have raised me with a lot of love and care. The advice I always get from them is to work honestly, diligently, and with determination, because success will surely come one day. They tell me never to lose hope because they are always there for me, providing me with moral support. Whatever I do, they always encourage and praise me. In tough times, they stand by me firmly. My eldest sister is Kranti Tai, and the younger one is Chandan Tai. This year, my sister Kranti Tai is coming from Pune to Mumbai for Raksha Bandhan, while my sister Chandan Tai, who lives in Aurangabad, will send her rakhi by post. That’s how we’ll celebrate Raksha Bandhan this year.
Komal More, Lakhate Ek Amcha Dada
My younger brother’s name is Abhijeet, and he’s about six years younger than me. Our relationship is full of love, with a little bit of fighting and sulking—just like any sibling bond. But my younger brother is very special to me. I love him more than anyone else in the world. Abhijeet always supports me. As an artist, I went through a struggle period like many others, and during those times, he would keep me engaged in other things to keep me positive. Our Raksha Bandhan is very special because just as I tie a rakhi on his wrist, he also ties one on mine and performs the aarti for me. This year will be the first time I won’t be home for Raksha Bandhan, and I’m going to miss him a lot.
Vallari Viraj, Navri Mile Hitlerla
I have a younger brother who is three years younger than me. He’s in his final year of law school. If I were to talk about our bond, we used to fight and play a lot as kids, but as we grew up, our friendship grew stronger, and we started sharing everything with each other. We can’t go shopping without each other. There might be things in my life that my parents don’t know, but my brother knows everything. Even though he’s younger, my brother is a very practical thinker, whereas I’m a bit emotional. This time, because of the ‘Navri Mile Hitlerla’ shoot, I’ll be going home to tie a rakhi on my brother, no matter how late it is.
Nitish Chavan, Lakhate Ek Amcha Dada
My brother’s name is Nilesh Chavan. He’s seven years older than me. We’re not just brothers, but also great friends. Whenever we need to go somewhere or buy something new, we always consult each other first. If I need to make a decision in life, I always take his advice. After our parents, he’s like a parent to me. He constantly guides me, tells me what’s right and wrong, and praises me just as much. If I make a mistake at work, he’s the one who points it out and helps me improve. His advice is always to stay honest with myself and my work, and to keep working hard. This year, Raksha Bandhan might be celebrated in Satara or Kolhapur, where my maternal grandparents live, as some cousins are there. But we’ll all come together and celebrate Raksha Bandhan.
