ANANYA BIRLA AND SANIA MIRZA

THE HEIRESS AND THE TENNIS STAR OFFER HELLO! A GLIMPSE INTO THEIR TRULY EXCEPTIONAL BOND

When Ananya Birla and Sania Mirza shared a selfie from the Birla jet en route to Dubai some time ago, it stirred up quite a storm among social media enthusiasts. You could almost hear the spirit of Robin Leach proclaiming, "Welcome to the Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous!"

Rich and famous, they both certainly are. Ananya, an heiress with one of the country's most esteemed surnames, and Sania, a trailblazer of women's tennis in India. Yet, one wonders: what could these two high-profile women possibly have in common? HELLO! pays a visit to the stately residence in Mumbai, where Ananya resides with her parents, Kumar Mangalam and Neerja Birla, to meet the besties and unveil this mystery.

FROM WORK TIES TO BFFS FOR LIFE

The tony neighborhood of Carmichael Road is home to some of the nation’s most prominent industrialists, business tycoons and South Bombay elites. The wealth here cannot be described as ‘old’ but more rightfully ‘ancient’ when examined closely.

The two women before us, however, cut a strikingly different picture. Dressed in hoodies and track pants after a gruelling photoshoot, where hair, make-up and lighting received meticulous attention, it’s almost as if they’ve conquered an immense summit. Everyone is now catching their breath, with numerous rounds of coffee and tea circulating among the crew.