Mumbai, Mar 13: Actor Lara Dutta and her 14-year-old daughter have safely returned to Mumbai after being stranded in Dubai amid rising tensions in West Asia.
The actor had earlier shared a video on social media describing the anxiety of being caught in the middle of the escalating conflict in the region.
Speaking about the experience, Dutta said the journey back to India was tense and uncertain as she and her daughter were living close to the Jebel Ali Port, which had reportedly been targeted during the conflict.
According to the actor, the family residence was located roughly 10 kilometres from the port area, where explosions were frequently heard.
She said they decided to attempt the return journey despite the risks, travelling nearly two hours by road to Fujairah to catch a flight to India. The move came shortly after reports that the port and oil refinery in Fujairah had also come under attack.
Describing the situation as frightening, Dutta said they could hear blasts even while waiting at the airport and were hoping that nothing would strike the facility.
She praised airlines for continuing operations during the crisis and admitted that the incident could leave a lasting impact on her daughter.
The actor also revealed the personal reason behind posting the video while still in Dubai. She said she rarely shares such moments online but felt compelled to do so before undertaking what she believed could be a dangerous journey back to India.
Dutta explained that the situation in the region was unpredictable and that a small thought crossed her mind that the video might be the last message she could share publicly.
The actor has been residing in Dubai for the past three years so that her daughter could train with a professional tennis coach based in the UAE. Her husband, former tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi, was in London at the time due to work commitments.
On the professional front, Dutta will next appear in the upcoming film Welcome to the Jungle, headlined by Akshay Kumar.
Several other Indian celebrities, including Sonal Chauhan, Esha Gupta, Nargis Fakhri, Vishnu Manchu and Ajith Kumar, were also reported to have faced travel disruptions in Dubai due to the regional conflict.