London Rapidly Becoming Bollywood’s Favourite Getaway

Two weeks ago there were so many Kapoors from Bollywood in London that the city had begun to resemble a mini-Punjab.

There was Boney Kapoor with all his children from his two marriages, joined by his niece Sonam and her newly married husband Anand. As if there wasn’t enough Kapoors in London already,Boney and family were joined by Kareena Kapoor and husband Saif together with their 1-year old superstar of the family Taimur.

Both Sonam and Kareena name London as their favourite city outside India. Saif has in fact spent a large chunk of his life in UK’s boarding school.His children from his first marriage Sara and Ebrahim too have studied in England as no doubt his son Taimur from his second marriage will.

Says Saif’s mother Sharmila, “I was always very fond of England. My husband(cricketer Nawab Pataudi) played many test matches there and I’d sometimes join him. Fortunately the children too have inherited a fondness for England .We do like to holiday in London, though nothing to beat home (India).”

Sharmila Tagore’s daughter-in-law Kareena who is holidaying in London with Saif and Taimur took a 36-hour break from her London vacation on Monday to fly into Mumbai for a live performance in Mumbai and then flew right back to London to be with her husband and son.

Sonam intends to make London one of her residences.

Before these current generation of UK-bound Indian celebrities many celebrities from Bollywood made a beeline for London. Lata Mangeshkar spent every Summer in London.

“I am very fond of that city. But I cannot travel that that far and frequently any more. I have great memories of the city and its warm people during my holidays and when I would perform live in the UK. My first international live concert was at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London. I remember every single detail of that concert,” reminisces Lataji.