A Bollywood actress and former Miss Universe Lara Dutta shared the story of a "stressful" moment in the Gulf, when she was stranded in Dubai with her daughter, Saira, amid the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. In a tearful video that was shared on her social media, Lara detailed the reality of navigating the escalation and how she witnessed missiles being intercepted in mid-air.
Witnessing the Conflict Firsthand
Lara, who has called Dubai home for three years, said on February 28 that when the first wave of retaliation strikes began, she was at a studio for a brand-related shoot. “We started hearing the explosions overhead, ran out of the studio, and saw missiles being intercepted,” the actress said.
As she shared what the atmosphere was like there, although they live in a secure neighborhood, it’s undeniable that military activity is strong. “Lots of fighter jets flying overhead, lots of loud booms. The windows shake, the house and the doors rattle, and it’s unnerving. But I haven’t felt unsafe, not even once.”
High Praise for UAE Authorities
Even with the palpable tension and the “scary” nature of the loud booms, she credited the UAE government for its handling of the crisis, Lara said. Whether the residents are foreigners or citizens, they’ve been made to feel “protected and wanted,” she said.
“The UAE government has done an incredible job. We feel like we count, we matter. As a resident, they are doing everything in their power to keep us safe. My gardener shows up every day to mow the lawn. Delivery riders are still working.” The country is being run by everyday heroes.
The Struggle to Return Home
Lara conceded that the uncertainty is putting strain on the kids while she praised the local stability. Her husband, renowned tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi, was out of town for work at the start of the conflict and is not present with them in Dubai.
The actress said she was on the hunt for flights back to Mumbai, in a bid to avoid the possibility as Emirates and Etihad are operating on a very limited "repatriation only" basis, however, obtaining seats to fly back to Mumbai has been tough. “We’re looking at flights to try to get back to Mumbai, particularly with the kids being a lot more anxious, especially now. We hold it together for the kids, but we, as grown-ups, are also nervous,” she said with tears.
A Plea for Peace
Similar to her experiences in India during regional tensions before, Lara ended her message with a call to diplomacy. "No civilian should live in fear or become embroiled in a war that destabilizes an entire region. I hope common sense and wiser action will get us through."
Lara is just one of several Bollywood stars, including Esha Gupta and Sonal Chauhan, who landed in the UAE during the abrupt airspace closures. Gupta and Chauhan have since made their way back to India but Lara remains in Dubai, waiting for a safe window to fly home.
