ABOUT ME
FAMILY
The Pillars of Love, Resilience, and Legacy
Roots and Foundations
I was born in a rich joint family in Mumbai, where fourteen of us lived together under one roof. I was fortunate enough to even share life with my great-grandfather. But the pillars of my upbringing were my grandparents — they were my anchors, my teachers, and the reason I stand on my feet today.
My grandfather poured his entire life into my treatments and well-being. He was my greatest supporter, my biggest fan, and the rarest kind of love one can experience. My grandmother was my guru. She was brave, independent, and relentless in teaching me resilience. When I stumbled on the streets, she would insist I get up on my own, stopping others from helping me. Her lesson was clear: self-reliance above all.
With her encouragement, I played cricket with neighborhood kids, broke braces, climbed trees — and was never told “you can’t.” That belief shaped me. My childhood, though marked by physical challenges, was filled with the kind of love that creates resilience, humility, and strength in equal measure.
Trials and Adversity
Life was not without its storms. In 1998, we lost everything we had built. My grandfather was betrayed by one of his own brothers, and overnight, all the wealth of the family was gone. From that moment, responsibility fell on my shoulders. Whether it was my grandfather’s cancer treatment or running the family fires, I had to provide. Being enterprising was not a choice; it was survival.
But champions are forged at the bottom. My grandparents had prepared me well — to turn adversity into growth. My parents, too, were extraordinary. Raising me was never an ordinary journey, but their effort and sacrifice made me who I am.
I come from the Gujarati Jain community, with roots in Surendranagar, Gujarat, though my life was shaped in Mumbai. That upbringing gave me the courage and grounding to eventually live and work across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, and today, to build a home in Manila.
My Family Today
In 2016, I married Hiasmine, the greatest source of balance and strength in my life. Without her, I would not even be alive today. She is my partner in every sense — and a role model for modern motherhood. In 2022, we also had an intimate religious wedding in Manila, sealing our bond with tradition.
Together, we are blessed with three wonderful sons:
– Arhan (2018) — Our eldest. Deeply emotional, soft-hearted, and wise beyond his years. He is loved by everyone, grounded despite the attention, and already a heartthrob at school.
– Abram (2021) — Our second. Mischievous and stylish, with a charming Western twang to his speech. He has immense smarts and is the family’s playful favorite.
– Aariv (2023) — Our youngest. Cute, sharp, and a little temperamental. At just two, he can already talk about the solar system with astonishing clarity.
We have raised them with a strict value system from day one. Much of that credit belongs to Hiasmine, whose balance of love and discipline inspires everyone who knows her. Friends, family, and even strangers often tell us how rare it is to see children so balanced, loving, and full of life.
