One can count on Leander Paes, the Padma Bhushan tennis superstar, to charm the pants, tees, shorts and caps off anyone in his orbit. He did just that during his terrific acceptance speech, when he (along with another tennis legend, Vijay Amritraj) was inducted into the prestigious International Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport, Rhode Island. They are the first Asian men to be thus honoured. Deservedly so. Leander, at 51, is a diehard Kolkata boy, born to remarkable parents, who, he candidly shared in that amazing speech, conceived the wunderkind in Munich, where they found themselves locked inside the India Pavilion at the ill-fated Olympics, when Palestinian terrorists murdered 11 Israeli athletes. Leander’s father, Dr Vece Paes, was a member of India’s hockey contingent. His mother, Jennifer, a top-notch basketball player, was with her husband.
Leander urged the tennis greats assembled at the induction ceremony, “To do the math.” In the audience, his parents were seen beaming away. Leander has consistently heaped generous praise on his father, saying, “My dad is my hero, best friend, guiding light, North Star”. It’s lovely to know that grandpa Paes has assumed the same mentor role in Leander’s 18-year-old daughter Aiyana’s tennis career. She has picked tennis over modelling/acting. Her mother is the gorgeous Rhea Pillai, who was with Leander for several years, before both moved on. Leander, himself, flirted with films briefly when he acted in a socio-political thriller which was a commercial disaster, Rajdhani Express (2013). No matter, Leander had a blast shooting it since Bollywood was on his bucket list. So was theatre and a Broadway debut! Let’s wait for this announcement. Leander is not known to give up easily!
Leander’s tennis bio is awe-inspiring. He started playing at age five, was a good footballer, but at his dad’s urging, switched to tennis and joined the tennis academy in Chennai. What followed is known to fans.
With 45 weeks a year on tennis tours, the former Davis Cup team captain is finally making time for what he enjoys the most—family, friends and golf. We last met at the Tolly X’mas lunch in Kolkata. The fabulously organised annual tradition is the most significant event on the social calendar in the City Of Joy. Everyone who is anyone is seen enjoying the lavish buffet on the sprawling lawns. And while we were busy greeting old friends, there was Leander, walking up with a big smile, accompanied by a beautiful lady. We met warmly, exchanged a few pleasantries and that was that. We were meeting after a break of a few years during which a great deal had transpired in his adventure-filled life. I turned around to watch the good-looking, fashionably clad duo as they did the rounds, clicked selfies with fans and spread good cheer. Wow! I thought to myself, they look so much in love. Maybe she’s the one!
Leander’s natural charm is irresistible and infectious. Women adore him! And so do kids and senior citizens. His heart-warming acceptance speech at Newport was a genuine reflection of all that he stands for. His humility and grace were not made for media constructs. If only more of our sports stars had this quality!
The personal lives of sports legends interest fans as much as their spectacular records. That’s how it should be. These amazing men and women are not regular folks leading ordinary, humdrum, mundane lives. Everything about them is exaggerated, and that’s what makes them heroes. Our fantasies would be horribly incomplete without the extra pinch of spice in the feast.
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