From Dubai mansions to sponsorships, here are fitting birthday gifts for Aishwarya's Aaradhya

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with her daughter Aaradhya as she was conferred with the French civilian award, Officer Dan Ordre Arts et des Lettres in Mumbai on November 1.
Superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘bitya’ and the apple of mom Aishwarya Rai’s eye, ‘Beti B’ turns one on November 16 amidst much aplomb

It’s the most anticipated birthday event since the October 10th celebration for Amitabh Bachchan.

And why not, considering she’s the Bollywood superstar’s granddaughter by Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and possibly the most media hounded child in all of India.

Aardhya Bachchan turns one on November 16 and the proud parents and grandparents, including Jaya, are expected to celebrate the day in a big way.

If rumours circulating are to be believed, the doting grandfather of the infant has ordered 200 environmentally friendly paper lanterns or Kandils, from Kailash Desle, a very well known manufacturer based in Thane.

Truth or fiction, it doesn’t take away from the fact that the Bachchans are big on gestures when it comes to showering love on one another, and sure enough, something huge would definitely be in the works for young Aardhya’s birthday that would leave a lasting impact on the young mite.

Emirates 24|7 puts on its thinking cap to suggest some grand birthday gift ideas for the Bachchan family’s youngest member.

Home sweet home

Considering papa Abhishek and mom Aishwarya are supposed owners of a sprawling mansion in the resort-style villa community of Sanctuary Falls, within Jumeirah Golf Estates for an estimated cost of $5-8 million, it is highly plausible the duo plan something to secure their daughter’s future.

Details on the couple’s new home are a guarded secret, but Sanctuary Falls is a collection of 96 resort style villas in a secure double-gated community and overlooks the Earth golf course designed by Greg Norman.

The community features five and six bedroom villas, ranging from 5,600 to 10,600 sq ft.

Meanwhile the property itself has been inspired by the natural elements of Fire, Earth, Water and Wind, the Jumeirah Golf Estates residential and recreational community has tied up with some of the most famous names in the game: Greg Norman, the ‘Shark’; former European Ryder Cup hero Sergio Garcia; and the father of modern golf course design, the legendary Pete Dye.

Once Aardhya grows up, she certainly will have interesting neighbours.

School of thought

Back in 2008, Amitabh and Jaya took a step to lay the foundation for a girls boarding school in Daulatpur village, Uttar Pradesh named after former Miss World and daughter-in-law Aishwarya.

While Aishwarya couldn’t really explain the reasoning behind this grand gesture, mother-in-law and actress Jaya said the school was named after her as a mark of respect for the people of UP who love their daughters and respect their daughters-in-law.

It is then only natural that the same accolade be bestowed upon granddaughter Aardhya.

Anyone from the Bachchans reading?

Flower power

Back in 2005 and several years after she was crowned Miss World, Aishwarya was honoured by The Netherlands, when the government decided to name a special variety of the tulip flower after her.

Named ‘Aishwarya Rai’, the ceremony was considered a fitting tribute to the glamour queen.

To bestow Aishwarya’s own little bud, her Aardhya, with a similar honour simply carries the tradition forward. What better than her birthday for this?