On Saturday, as India celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan, Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar shared a touching tribute to his sister, Alka Hiranandani. The actor posted a picture on Instagram showing the two of them during a traditional puja ceremony in his living room. In the photo, Alka, wearing a yellow suit, is seen performing an aarti for Akshay, who sits with his eyes closed, wearing a blue shirt and a black beanie.
The post’s caption was a heartfelt message that quickly went viral. “Aankhein band hai, toh maa dikh rahi hai. Aur aankhein khol kar teri smile. Love you Alka. Happy Rakhi,” he wrote, which translates to: “With my eyes closed, I see my mother. And with my eyes open, I see your smile. Love you, Alka. Happy Rakhi.”
Fans were quick to show their appreciation for the post, with many leaving sweet comments about the eternal bond between a brother and sister. One user wrote, “Bhai Bahan ka pyar Amar hota hai (The love between a brother and sister is eternal),” while another commented on the actor’s consistency, stating, “Pata tha Raksha Bandhan ho aur Akshay Kumar Sir post naa aaye aisa ho hi nahin sakta hai (I knew it — if it’s Raksha Bandhan, there’s no way Akshay Kumar Sir wouldn’t make a post).” One fan, in a more playful tone, wondered about the kind of gifts celebrities give each other, asking, “Mai to ye soch rahi hu ki Akki sir ne gift me kya diya hoga..😅 vaise ye celebrities kya gift dete honge?? (I’m just wondering what Akki sir must have given as a gift… 😅 By the way, what kind of gifts do celebrities even give?)”
Akshay has a history of sharing heartfelt messages for his sister on Raksha Bandhan. In a previous post, he called her his “go to person when I’m in a dilemma,” and praised her as “the most selfless person I know.”
Alka Hiranandani, who largely stays out of the public eye, is married to real estate developer Surendra Hiranandani. She has also been involved in film production and was a co-producer on her brother’s film, Raksha Bandhan, which was a cinematic dedication to their special bond.