Amid her brother retired Major Vikrant Jaitly’s extended detention in the UAE, actress Celina Jaitly found profound emotional relief through a fauji family’s sister’s gesture. The 25 February Instagram post captured a moment of pure, sisterly love that reaffirmed her sense of belonging.
Dressed in a grey kantha sari embroidered with parrots, Celina described the experience vividly. ‘A fauji sister’s affection,’ she began. ‘Life’s hustle made me forget the ritual of sisters exchanging and wearing saris. She gifted it, then dressed me—pinning, pleating, wrapping me in security.’
The care continued with bangles slipped on, earrings fixed, photos taken, pallu adjusted, and a bindi applied. ‘Such gestures reminded me: I’m not alone,’ Celina wrote, her words dripping with gratitude. The sari’s backstory—from her friend’s Bengal posting—added layers of nostalgia.
It whisked her to childhood scenes of her mother in kantha saris, embodying love and pride. ‘That comfort, lost for ages, returned fully.’ Celina, proud of her Kumaoni heritage, feels empowered by Nanda Devi and Himalayan roots. ‘Solace comes unannounced—in folds of fabric, jingly bangles, a behen’s hug. Safe in the fold of family. Love you, Sameera.’
Her background is one of service: Punjabi Hindu father Colonel Vikram Jaitly, Afghan Hindu mother Meeta the army nurse, and brother Vikrant, now in UAE custody. This viral moment showcases the enduring spirit of India’s army community, providing Celina solace in adversity.