“When mom and dad passed away, I went into severe depression, which rendered me completely shattered” – Celina Jaitley

By Subhash K. Jha -

November 25, 2020 - 11:46 AM IST

In Austria with her husband and three children, Celina Jaitley is in a celebratory mood. When I touch base with her to wish her on her special day, she sounds exceptionally happy. “It’s a quiet birthday. No shor sharaba this year. Here, in Austria, we are in the midst of our second wave of Covid and hence in lockdown again. But that’s okay. We need to set an example by adhering strictly to the rules of the lockdown,” says the birthday girl who may look picture-perfect, but has had more than her share of personal tragedies to cope with.

“When mom and dad passed away, I went into severe depression, which rendered me completely shattered” – Celina Jaitley

Recalls Celina, “I attended my father’s military-honoured funeral with two babies in seventh month of pregnancy, following which we lost one baby and shortly after that my mother in very tragic circumstances. When Mom and Dad passed away, I went into severe depression, which rendered me completely shattered. It reached a point when I had a minor accident while driving.”

This is where Celina says her husband stepped into rescue his beautiful wife from depression. “That’s when Peter decided that it would be a good idea disconnect move back to Austria to our alpine estate to recover and get treatment and reboot. Peter was chief commercial officer of one of the biggest companies in the world when he resigned to support me through my trauma. We both were grieving for our son and my parents.”

Brightening up, she says, “And now, here I am with my four boys, my husband Peter Haag being the oldest of my boys (laughs), having a warm and cozy birthday as Austria has gone into a complete lockdown again. We are planning some games later in the day. My boys want to have dance competition, so that’s also going to happen later in the day (laughs).”

What about the cake? “Ofcourse! There’s a huge cake which we shall cut and devour, my diet be damned. And there is a big gift-wrapped present staring in my face as I talk to you. I’ve been wondering the whole day what’s in it. I am dying to open it. But, I am not allowed to open it as yet.”

Celina feels her birthday couldn’t be better. “I couldn’t ask for a happier birthday. I am surrounded by the people who matter the most to me. It’s time for all of us to find the courage within to move on to 2021. Life is beautiful. And made more beautiful a dear friend like you.”

By the way, all the pictures clicked by Celina’s husband Peter Haag. “Such a chuppa rustom he is! I discovered his talent for photography by chance. And now I just can’t stop myself from getting clicked by him.” Celina gushes.

Also Read: “I am myself taking great pleasure in home-schooling the boys”, says Celina Jaitley about the European lockdown for the corona virus