The trend of opting to be a single parent via assisted reproduction saw a surge about five years ago when Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao became the first Bollywood couple to announce the birth of their son, Azad, through surrogacy.
The surge gained momentum when AbRam, the youngest child of Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri, was also born in 2013 via surrogacy.
Now, with actor Tusshar Kapoor announcing to take the surrogacy route to become a single parent, the trend hardly seems to raise an eyebrow.
Right to parenthood
Manvendra Singh Gohil, the first openly gay member of India’s royal family, spoke to The Hindu about parenthood and the bias that surrounds sexual orientation: “Every human being has the right to be happy, and enjoy parenthood if need be. Today, because of Bollywood, these issues are being discussed in public.”
Dr. Shobha Gupta, medical director and IVF specialist from Mother’s Lap IVF Centre, says: “Common people do look up to celebrities. The mentality is more like if Tusshar Kapoor or Shahrukh Khan can have their babies via surrogacy, why can’t we?’’ she says.
Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, gynaecologist and infertility expert at Fortis La Femme, also heaps praise on Bollywood for its openness on the subject of surrogacy.
“It has finally given hope and courage to many,” he says.
The physician further says that in the last few years, she has received many requests from single men and women desiring parenthood. People’s lifestyles and attitudes have changed, and even families support such decisions. “Before starting the procedure, we send candidates to counsellors, so that they can understand the subject in detail,’’ says Dr. Pai.
Commercial surrogacy in India is legal with the availability of medical infrastructure and potential surrogates. International demand also fuels the growth of the industry. A study backed by the United Nations in July 2012 had estimated the business to be worth more than $400 million a year, with over 3,000 fertility clinics across India.
