Lara Dutta on Wednesday shared she is stuck in Dubai with her daughter Saira. She praised the UAE government for ensuring the safety of citizens.
In a series of updates, actor Lara Dutta opened up about being “stressed out” and “nervous” as she lives in Dubai amidst the sudden escalation of the US-Iran conflict. The actor is in Dubai with her daughter Saira, and she explained what was supposed to be a regular brand-related trip has taken a frightening turn.
Lara recounted a harrowing experience at a studio where she heard explosions and witnessed missiles being intercepted midair. Currently, the wife of tennis veteran Mahesh Bhupathi is eager to wrap up her commitments and return home to the safety of Mumbai.
“We have been in Dubai since the start of this Israel-Iran war, what’s being termed the Israel-Iran war. UAE, Dubai, has been my home now for the last three years. I have spent a considerable amount of time here. I was actually shooting on the 28th at a studio in Dubai,” she said, adding: “We started hearing the explosions overhead, ran out of the studio, and saw missiles being intercepted. It’s been a few, I can’t lie, stressful days. I have my daughter here with me, Mahesh was away for work, he wasn’t in Dubai thankfully.”
The actor also spoke about witnessing fighter jets overhead and hearing loud booms. “But I just want to say that we are nervous, and it’s been scary. Lots of fighter jets flying overhead, lots of loud booms. Though we live in a villa in a very safe neighbourhood, the windows shake, the house and the doors rattle, and it’s unnerving. But I haven’t felt unsafe, not even once,” she added.
While expressing gratitude to the UAE government, she emphasised, “I just want to say that the UAE government has done an incredible job. I think, for every single person – I won’t speak for anybody else – we felt really looked after. We felt wanted, we felt protected, regardless of our nationality or where we’re from.”
“We feel like we count, we matter. The UAE government, as a resident, as somebody living in this city, is making sure they do everything in their power to protect us and keep us safe. I’m amazed. My gardener has been showing up every day mowing up my lawn, watering the plants,” the actor went on.
At the end of the video, Lara spoke with tears in her eyes. She said, “I’ve so much respect and admiration for just ordinary, normal people who don’t have a choice of looking at wanting to get out, who are keeping this country running. We are actually looking at flights; there aren’t too many, but there are some, Etihad and Emirates. But we are looking at flights to try and get back to Mumbai. More so, because I think the kids are a lot more nervous about this. We are as well, as grown-ups. We keep it together for the kids. So we are looking at flights and trying to get out by some means.”
Lara also spoke about the conflict between India and Pakistan last year. “I was in India when India and Pakistan went to war. We saw how well our country protected us there. It’s the same here,” she said.
“No civilian deserves to live in fear or to be caught up in a war that is destabilising the entire region. I hope common sense will prevail. Better judgment will prevail with everybody who’s making these decisions. Until then. We continue,” she concluded.
