She is a mint new mom and wears the maternal glow with pride as she rocks her beautiful baby boy. Actor Vandana Sajnani has always been an absolute livewire, wearing the mantle of a director and producer (of her own theatre company) with equal charm. She has starred in blockbusters like Main Madhuri Dixit Banana Chahti Hoon, Corporate and Dil Dhadakne Do; in telly serials Shaheen, Kartavy, Saathiya, and in popular plays including FourSome, Please Divorce Me. But Vandana Sajnani has had it anything but easy, getting little Vanraj into this world.
Three miscarriages, three failed IVF cycles, three unsuccessful IUI procedures, three surrogacies that went awry, and finally a pregnancy that saw her undergo hospitalisation for months, and a messed up caesarian delivery…Vandana has been through the agonising experience of it all. But Vanraj’s arrival, three months before his actual due date, has been totally worth it.
Excerpts from a conversation:
Why did you name your little one Vanraj Krishna?
Vanraj is a combination of our names – Vandana, and my husband Rajesh (Khattar). Our baby also happened after our trip to Vrindavan, and he was discharged from the Newborn Intensive Care Unit on Janmashtami day. Another beautiful reason is that Rajesh’s father’s name is Krishan. Hence the name Vanraj Krishna Khattar.
You’re 45. Did you plan a late pregnancy?
I have been trying for a baby since Rajesh and I got married. It hasn’t been easy, emotionally and physically. I have been through failed IUI, IVF, pregnancies and surrogacies, dealt with my own hormonal and related turmoil, depression, survived a botched up delivery, but Vanraj is here now. He is two-and-a-half months; a gift from God.
How are you feeling right now, having brought home Vanraj now?
Happy and exhausted. Staying awake at night, getting into sync with Vanraj’s changing sleep patterns.
You are truly a born survivor!
Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. I was pregnant with twins, and lost one of my babies a few months ago
Shilpi Madan for Indian Express