After welcoming her first child into the family, Mandira Bedi and her late husband, filmmaker Raj Kaushal, were driven by a desire to adopt another. Following years of navigating the complex adoption process, they were finally able to bring their daughter, Tara Bedi Kaushal, into their lives. Mandira recently opened up about the challenges they faced during the adoption journey and recounted how, amid the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, they took the extraordinary step of flying Tara home in a private jet.
In a heartfelt conversation with Humans of Bombay, Mandira Bedi revealed, “I wanted to have a second child and adopt. When my son Veer was about six, I put in the papers for adoption. It’s a long process, and I don’t know why it’s not easier. I mean, I understand the reasons, but when it’s clear that this is a good family, it should be simpler. It took a while—Veer turned nine, the pandemic hit, and I told Raj, ‘It still hasn’t happened. Why?’ We had gotten caught up and didn’t follow up much. So, I thought, it’s now or never, and we pushed forward.”
Mandira Bedi reminisced about the moment they received a photo of Tara via email, immediately sensing she was the one. Due to the pandemic, Raj Kaushal traveled solo to Jabalpur to finalize the adoption process, while Mandira remained at home with their son, Veer. Once Raj completed the necessary formalities, Mandira and Veer arranged for a private jet to bring Tara home. Mandira met Tara at the airport, ensuring her first journey was special as they flew back to Mumbai together.
Reflecting on the experience, Mandira said, “This is maktoob… for a girl who had never sat in a car before, she took a trip on a private jet. It was naseeb, kismat. We wouldn’t have used a private jet, but it was too dangerous to fly commercially because Covid was at its peak. It was the most practical solution at the time.”
Mandira Bedi shared the emotional journey of her son Veer’s reaction to adopting his sister, Tara. Initially, Veer had eagerly wished for a sister when he was six, but his enthusiasm waned by the time he turned nine, causing Mandira to question her decision. “I was very overwhelmed because a little human being was coming into our life and everything would change. Veer was crying, and I was crying. When we reached the airport, this little girl with a plastic hat came with Raj. She was so small. It took time for her to settle into the family, and for Veer to start liking her.” Happily, Mandira revealed that Veer has now wholeheartedly embraced Tara, and the two siblings share a deep, loving bond.
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