Ameesha Patel recently spoke about her family’s long-standing ties with Indira Gandhi, revealing that the former prime minister was the first to visit her when she was born and shared a close relationship with her family on both personal and political fronts. She added in an interview that this connection existed even before her birth.
Ameesha Patel recalls Indira Gandhi visiting her as a newborn
Talking to Bollywood Bubble, Patel said, “When I was born at Breach Candy Hospital, the first person to come and see me was Indira Gandhi.” She further reflected on her grandfather, noted barrister Rajni Patel, highlighting his strong presence in political circles. She shared, “My grandfather, Barrister Rajni Patel, was a very renowned barrister. Then he stepped into politics. His mentor from childhood was Jawaharlal Nehru. When he entered politics, he first joined the Communist Party and then moved to the Congress. During his time in Congress, his closest associate was Indira Gandhi. He was her chief advisor. He had also served as the Congress treasurer and Congress president. There wasn’t any major move that Indira Gandhi would make without discussing it with my grandfather or taking his opinion. My grandfather also raised funds for many chief ministers across India. It is a very politically involved family.”
Ameesha Patel reveals Indira Gandhi fixed her parents’ wedding date
In the same interaction, Patel also mentioned that her parents’ wedding date was set based on Indira Gandhi’s convenience. “Indira Gandhi fixed the wedding date of my parents as well. Their horoscopes didn’t match, so she was asked when she was available, and based on her dates, my parents’ wedding day was finalised.” She went on to highlight another contribution by her grandfather, saying, “The Nehru Planetarium in Worli was built by my grandfather as a tribute to his mentor Jawaharlal Nehru. There is a very deep connection with the Gandhi family.” Stressing their close professional ties, she added, “My grandfather belonged to the Congress, and he had very deep professional ties with Indira Gandhi.”
Rajni Patel’s political legacy and influence
Rajni Patel, a prominent lawyer and senior Congress leader, was regarded as one of Mumbai’s most respected legal figures. Trained in London as a barrister, he went on to build a successful practice and was part of the defense team in the high-profile 1959 K.M. Nanavati case. He began his political journey with the Communist movement before joining the Indian National Congress in the late 1960s, where he shared a close equation with Indira Gandhi. Known for his sharp legal acumen and political influence, he later became president of the Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee and was seen as a powerful force within the party.
