BIPIN DANI
Earlier this week (Wednesday) the owners and the management of Shree Thaker Bhojanalay at Kalbadevi Road in South Mumbai were not surprised when a table for Gujarati Thali was booked by Sachin Tendulkar's wife Anjali, but yes, they were "pleasantly surprised" to see Little Master on their guest list.
"It was because Anjali, being born in a Gujarati family, has been a regular visitor at our restaurant. She dines here frequently and sometimes with her friends, parents or our chief minister's wife but when we saw Sachin also here this time, our joy knew no bounds", says Hemraj Purohit, the manager of the restaurant.
The occasion was Anjali Tendulkar's 54th birthday (yes, she is 7 years elder to our Little Master)".
The family had decided to celebrate the birthday at Shree Thaker Bhojanalaya, the restaurant famous for Gujju food served in Gujarati Thalis.
The restaurant, which is over 75 years old, is located in the most crowded area of the city.
The restaurant has a tradition of saying "padharo jamva" (welcome to dine) in Gujarati / Marwadi style to each visitor.
"To avoid rush, the family with about 20 people came at around 11.45 and dined and left within 45 minutes. They had brought the cake with them and a special section was provided to them for their privacy".
Anjali's parents and friends were there. Daughter Sara was there. Son Arjun was not there.
Anjali Tendulkar was born to a well known Gujarati family in India. Her father Anand Mehta (well-known bridge player) is an Indian while her mother Annabel (NGO worker) belongs to a British country. So that’s why her family has a taste of modernism. This beautiful woman Anjali, a pediatrician (not doing practice) married to a well known cricketer Sachin Tendulkar in 1995.
"They all tasted all the items served to them and enjoyed the food", the manager adds.
"Had a ??? (very good) Gujarati thali at Shree Thaker Bhojnalaya to celebrate Anjali’s birthday. Her Gujju genes are strong but our jeans’ buttons were weak after this meal! ????", Sachin Tendulkar later said on social media.
