Ek baar phir for the Uberoi dad

It was a big decision, but he knew what he was doing. “My daughters were growing up and beginning to go places in the tennis world and I had to make a choice. I was always sure it would be the right choice,” he said.

Mahesh played tennis and wanted his daughters to take it up as well since he believed the only way for a country to be recognised is by producing world-class athletes. “I have five daughters. While the eldest Diya plays the sport, she is more into studies. But the rest are all seriously into the game. Shikha and Neha apart, the youngest Nikita and Nimita, who are twins and just 11, are very promising,” he said.

Understandably, his daughters are the biggest fans of their first cousin Vivek Oberoi. “They watch all his movies and whenever we are in India, make it a point to attend all his films’ premieres,” he said.

Interestingly Uberoi is the family surname and it was Vivek’s father Suresh who apparently changed it. “It was a mistake, really. He had just signed his first film Ek Bar Phir, but signed his name mistakenly as Oberoi instead of Uberoi. The film did fairly well and so he decided to keep the changed surname,” he said.

The proud father, who watched Shikha hold her own against Venus Williams on the Arthur Ashe Stadium last year, however, admits it is a tough ask doubling up as coach, a la Richard Williams.

“I travel with Shikha and Neha because I am also their coach. But, it is rather difficult since I have to look after so many aspects,” he said.

Mahesh hopes to see all four of his tennis-playing daughters represent India in Fed Cup. “It is my dream,” he said.