Here's why Karan Johar, Tusshar Kapoor might be the last ones to be blessed with a child through surrogacy

Karan Johar might be the last of his kind to have benefited from this technological advancement that allows a person from becoming a parent without medically going through the procedure.

By Smrity Sharma
| Updated: March 7, 2017 12:05 PM IST

Karan Johar made headlines after he announced the news of welcoming his kids Yash Johar and Roohi Johar into the world through surrogacy. But unlike how the news of a baby’s arrival is met with celebration and congratulatory messages, the filmmaker had many who trolled him! Blame it on his single status, his sexual orientation and the surrogacy rules in India. Just last year, the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 was introduced in Lok Sabha in November. While the bill got the nod from the cabinet, it hasn’t been passed as yet. A lot of revisions in the bill are proposed to safeguard surrogate mothers and to ensure a secure future for children born thus. Also Read - Aamir Khan’s daughter Ira Khan shares pictures of her chilling with Fatima Sana Shaikh and Kiran Rao; netizens call Dangal actress superstar’s third wife

Speaking EXCLUSIVELY to BollywoodLife, Advocate Nandkishore Kumar of Mumbai-based Kumar & Associates that deals with child adoption cases, says, that the bill is yet to become a law but it is a welcome move. “It is a much-needed one since it will abolish commercial surrogacy – wherein such procedures are undertaken for a monetary reward. The bill also brings in place some strict regulatory measures which will ensure that the surrogate child isn’t abandoned and has a secure future and the surrogate mother isn’t exploited.” But the bill is not perfect! There are a lot of rather regressive proposals that highlight some archaic ideas and bar an individual from exercising free will! Also Read - From staying in a cheap hotel to not buying expensive stuff; Times Sara Ali Khan proved she's just like one of us

Proposed by Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, the bill prohibits single parents, homosexuals, live-in couples from becoming commissioning parents. If the bill comes to pass, Karan Johar might be the last of his kind to have benefited from this technological advancement that allows a person from becoming a parent without medically going through the procedure. But will it be fair for the Indian government to lay down such a rule and decide who can be a parent and who cannot? Also Read - Karan Johar didn’t want Kajol but Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to play the lead heroine in K3G; here’s why he changed his mind

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Dr Firuza Parikh, renowned fertility physician at Jaslok hospital who assisted actor Tusshar Kapoor last year in his journey to become a father through surrogacy spoke to BollywoodLife about why this new bill needs massive revision before it is passed. “There are only guidelines right now. There is no law currently, that prohibits an Indian national, whether married or unmarried to become a father or mother,” shares Dr Parikh.

She further reveals, “Last year we had Tusshar Kapoor whose surrogate delivered with us and we took a lot of legal opinion before going ahead. And since there is no law in place, there is nothing illegal about this.” She also felt that that the bill proposed a few points which can be avoided to be more accommodating and understanding towards the needs of individuals like Karan Johar or any single individual for that matter who wants to embrace parenthood.

Parikh was also of the opinion that the Indian government and media are running this to the ground. “People have children out of wedlock, then there are some who get married, have children and then get divorced… what happens to those children then?” questions Parikh further reiterating, “Why are we putting so much emphasis on somebody who has a biological need. Just like a biological need for food and sex, there is a biological need for parenting.” She cites examples of two of her patients – Tusshar Kapoor and Kiran Rao.

“When Tusshar came to us, he wanted to be a father but wasn’t sure if he is ready. He went to counselling for about 3 to 4 months before deciding to go for it. He didn’t take a decision overnight, on a whim. He knew he was ready for a baby and capable of taking care of it and providing for it and that’s when he finally took that step,” reveals Parikh while sharing that Laksshya is doted upon at the Kapoor household and he will definitely grow up to be a wonderful human being.

While Tusshar was single and so had to opt for surrogacy to fulfil his need to become a father, Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao on the other had had to use the technology due to medical reasons. “Aamir and Kiran had a medical issue. Kiran had a problem with the uterus and bearing a child would have been a risk for her as well as the baby. They opted for surrogacy to complete their family,” shares Dr Parikh highlighting the fact that science has to help the society and till doing something doesn’t harm an individual, we are on safe ground.

The bill bars married couples having biological children or being capable of bearing children themselves – naturally or through IVF, from going for surrogacy. In such scenario, Parikh hoped that the government took a cultivated decision after much debate on now the surrogacy bill if made into a law would impact the society. “There is an urgent need to be more accommodating of the needs of individuals wanting to become parents. We also need to stop stereotyping and concluding who can be a good parent and who cannot - based on their sexual orientation or relationship status,” she laments! We couldn’t agree more.

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BySmrity Sharma
| Updated: March 7, 2017 12:05 PM IST