'She came to see me first': Ameesha Patel on Indira Gandhi's close family bond

Actor Ameesha Patel has spoken about her family's long-standing association with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In a recent interview, she shared personal details about how closely her family was connected with India's political leadership.

She said that the relationship existed even before her birth. According to Ameesha, Indira Gandhi was the first person to visit her after she was born at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.

Family's political background

Ameesha spoke about her grandfather Rajni Patel, describing him as a prominent barrister who later entered politics. She said he had deep connections with national leaders.

She stated, "When I was born at Breach Candy Hospital, the first person who came to see me was Indira Gandhi. My grandfather, Rajni Patel, was a well-known barrister who later joined politics."

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According to her, Rajni Patel was mentored by Jawaharlal Nehru from a young age. He initially joined the Communist Party and later moved to the Congress. Ameesha said, "During his time in the Congress, Indira Gandhi was very close to him. He served as her advisor and also held positions such as treasurer and president in the party."

She further claimed that her grandfather played a key role in political and organisational matters. “He raised funds for several chief ministers and was actively involved in political work,” she said.

Personal and family anecdotes

Ameesha also shared that family events were influenced by this association. She said, "Indira Gandhi herself fixed my parents' wedding date. The family checked her availability and finalised the date accordingly."

She added that the Nehru Planetarium was built by her grandfather as a tribute to Jawaharlal Nehru, reflecting the family's connection with the Nehru-Gandhi legacy.

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Ameesha also mentioned that her parents were married at the Taj Mahal Palace. She said personalities like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, and M. F. Husain were frequent visitors to their home.

Separately, Ameesha became widely known after her debut in 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai'. She later had a public dispute with her father over financial matters, alleging mismanagement of her earnings and issuing a legal notice before moving out.