Grandmom's the word

When Dimple Kapadia had her first grandchild from daughter Twinkle, she joined a list of glamourous grandmoms. A list, because India, after all, has plenty of them. But what sets these young-at-heart women apart from others who tend to resign themselves to old age? They just continue to burst with energy and enthusiasm.
Take Sabira Merchant, for instance.Still guiding young girls, Sabira not only trains beauty-pageant queens with winning tips, she also manages to take care of her own looks. "For me, grandmotherhood is just another phase of life. I believe one has to keep living with the same zest. I have this greed for life and want to make the most of what I''m left with — be it two or 20 years."
Now, a piece of advice from Sabira for modern grandmas: "Just because you have a grandchild, it doesn''t mean you have to be silver-haired, wear glasses and hold knitting needles. But there has to be a certain discipline. I don''t diet, but I don''t binge either; and, yes, I work out regularly."
Ditto with Meera Zaveri of the TBZ family, who is turning grandma for the second time. "When people see my grand-daughter with me, they start wondering about my age. It''s flattering. But there''s a certain routine I follow. I walk daily and play tennis. Fortunately, I have a figure which lets me wear all sorts of outfits. I don''t think that once one has passed a certain age, one has to stop wearing make-up or end up with a boring wardrobe. The trick is to strike a healthy balance. If I go on pilgrimages, I also enjoy partying," she elaborates.
In contrast though, Bollywood nanis and dadis appear coy. Like Sharmila Tagore, who has grandchildren from Saif Ali Khan. And Dimple, who would rather talk about her little angel than herself. "I think my grandson is the most wanted right now. I feel he is sexier than me at the moment!" says Dimple.
Sanjay Khan''s daughter, Farah, who turned mom a few months ago, beams with evident pride when talking about her mom Zarine Khan, who is glamourous — and a famous interior designer to boot. Needless to say, these women believe in managing homes, careers and their grandchildren. "My mom is going to be grandmom for the fourth time," says Farah. Well, whether it''s living life or doting on grandchildren, for these wonderful ladies, once is just not enough!
delhitimes@indiatimes.com