10 Bollywood Celebrities Who Welcomed Babies Via Surrogacy

Before we begin listing out the umpteen celebrities who've opted for this form of childbirth, let's quickly grasp the basic concept of surrogacy. In definition, surrogacy is an arrangement—often supported by a legal agreement—whereby a woman agrees to bear a child for another person or people, who will then become the child's parents after the birth. (Did you catch Kriti Sanon's movie, Mimi? If yes, you get what we're talking about). 

Romantic partners may opt for surrogacy for one of the following reasons: infertility, same-sex couples, pre-existing health conditions, risk (or problems) due to the previous pregnancy, or simply because the woman doesn't wish to conceive. All in all, it's a pretty good alternative route to experience parenthood. Over the years, a bunch of celebrity couples have made a strong case for this practice by opting for this arrangement. 

Below, we've enlisted a few B-town biggies who have welcomed little ones into their lives via surrogacy; unconventional, but why not? 

 

Shilpa Shetty

 

On 15th February 2020, actor Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra announced the birth of their daughter Samisha via surrogacy. "After Viaan, I did want to have another child for the longest time. But I suffered from an autoimmune disease called APLA, and that came into play every time I got pregnant. So I had a couple of miscarriages; it was a genuine issue. I didn’t want Viaan to grow up as a single child because I’m also one of two, and I know how important it is to have a sibling...I waited for nearly four years and then we decided to try the surrogacy route," she revealed in an interview. 

In February, she announced on Instagram, "Our prayers have been answered with a miracle. With gratitude in our hearts, we are thrilled to announce the arrival of our little Angel, Samisha Shetty Kundra. 'Sa' in Sanskrit is 'to have' and 'Misha' in Russian stands for 'someone like God'. You personify this name—our Goddess Laxmi, and complete our family."

 

Preity Zinta

 

On 18th November this year, the interracial couple welcomed twin babies, Gia and Jai, via surrogacy. "Gene and I are overjoyed, and our hearts are filled with so much gratitude and with so much love as we welcome our twins Jai Zinta Goodenough and Gia Zinta Goodenough into our family. We are very excited about this new phase in our lives. A heartfelt thank you to the doctors, nurses, and our surrogate for being part of this incredible journey," the Kal Ho Naa Ho actor revealed in an Instagram post. 

 

Karan Johar

 

In February 2017, director and film producer Karan Johar became a father to twins, Yash and Roohi—a wordplay on the names of his parents. "I am ecstatic to share with you all the two most wonderful additions to my life, my children and lifelines, Roohi and Yash. I feel enormously blessed to be a parent to these pieces of my heart who were welcomed into this world with the help of the marvels of medical science...I have prepared myself mentally, physically, emotionally, and logistically to ensure that my children get all the unconditional love, care, and attention from me and mine. I have submitted to the fact that my children are my world and priority," he said in an official statement. 

 

Shah Rukh Khan 

 

The King of Bollywood, and his wife Gauri Khan, quelled rumours surrounding the birth of their son, AbRam, by stating, "Amidst all the noise that has been going around, the sweetest is the one made by our new-born baby, AbRam. He was born prematurely by several months but has finally come home." The couple, who already have two children, Suhana and Aryan, welcomed AbRam via surrogacy on 27th May  2013. 

 

Sunny Leone

 

The celebrity not only opted for surrogacy but also welcomed a child who she named Nisha Kaur Weber, into her family, via adoption. "I chose surrogacy, and I chose adoption because I wanted to keep going, and I wanted to keep working. That was my personal choice. I thought I was going to have one but I had three," she revealed. In 2018, Sunny and her husband Daniel welcome Asher and Noah Weber via surrogacy. 

 

Tusshar Kapoor

 

Tusshar Kapoor adopted this method back in 2016 to welcome his son Laksshya into the world. In an interview, he opened up about his life as a single parent and how he plans to tie the knot at some point. He also revealed that he might adopt a child in the future but does not have any firm plans to do so yet.

 

Ekta Kapoor 

 

His sister Ekta Kapoor, too, became the single parent to her son Ravie, who she welcomed via surrogacy in January 2019. She revealed that she had stored her eggs at 36, for when she would be ready to bring a child into the world. The decision to follow the surrogacy route was taken after several failed cycles of intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). 

 

Aamir Khan 

 

Actor-filmmaker Aamir Khan's youngest son with Kiran Rao, Azad Rao Khan, was born via surrogacy in December 2011. The couple admitted that they had struggled to have a baby for a long time and that their family was complete after the birth of Azad. In August this year, the two issued a joint statement announcing their divorce; separating after 15 years of marriage. 

 

Sohail Khan 

 

Seema Khan (of The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives fame) and Sohail Khan welcomed their second son, Yohan, via surrogacy, 13 years after their marriage and ten years after the birth of their first son Nirvaan. When it could not happen naturally, they too had to seek medical help and opted for surrogacy.

 

Lisa Ray 

 

Actor Lisa Ray—who has openly spoken about her battle with cancer—announced the arrival of her twins via surrogacy in 2018. She and her husband, Jason Dehni, welcomed Sufi and Soleil into their lives in June that year. Her chances of conceiving were cut when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2009, a fatal form of cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell.