Lara Dutta and Her Daughter Saira Return to India From Dubai Amid Iran-Israel War, Actress Says ‘Felt Like I Was Part of Airlift 2’

Actor Lara Dutta has safely returned to India with her 14-year-old daughter, Saira, after being stranded in Dubai during a period of escalating regional conflict. Speaking about the harrowing experience of navigating missile strikes and airport explosions, the former Miss Universe revealed that the tense atmosphere felt like a scene from a movie, remarking, "I felt like I was part of Airlift 2." ‘Jannat’ Actress Sonal Chauhan Returns to Mumbai Safely After Being Stranded in Dubai Amid Iran-Israel War (Watch Video).

Lara Dutt and Her Daughter Return After Being Stranded In Dubai

The actor, who has lived in Dubai for the past three years for her daughter’s tennis training, found herself alone with Saira when the conflict intensified. Her husband, tennis veteran Mahesh Bhupathi, was in London for work at the time.

In an exclusive conversation with HT City, Dutta described the "scary" decision to leave their home, which was located just 10 kilometres from the Jebel Ali Port—an area she noted was being "bombed and hammered every day."

"We decided to take a chance, as I wanted to be with my husband and my family," Dutta said. "We drove two hours to Fujairah, and just a day earlier, Fujairah port and the oil refinery had been bombed. It was scary; I am not going to lie about it."

‘Airlift 2’ and Airport Anxiety

The journey was so dramatic that Dutta found herself drawing parallels to the 2016 film Airlift, which depicted the massive evacuation of Indians from Kuwait."I was joking with my co-star Akshay Kumar that I felt like I was part of Airlift 2," she shared.

The tension followed them to the airport, where the sound of nearby explosions remained a constant reminder of the volatility of the situation. "Even at the airport you could hear these booms. You were just hoping that nothing was struck," the actor recalled.

Lara Dutta Praises Airlines and Authorities

Despite the "unnerving" experience, which included witnessing "huge orange balls of fire" in the distance during takeoff, Dutta lauded the efficiency of the airline crew. She noted that aircraft were landing and reloading passengers within 15 minutes to ensure a quick turnaround.

"Hats off to the airlines," she said, specifically mentioning the quick operations of SpiceJet.

Dutta also previously praised the UAE government for its protective measures during the crisis, stating that she felt "really looked after" and "protected" despite the "loud booms" that frequently rattled the windows of her villa.

Impact on Family

While relieved to be back in Mumbai, the actor acknowledged the emotional toll the event took on her daughter. "I am very sure my daughter is going to have some amount of trauma after this experience," she admitted, explaining that the decision to post a video about their situation earlier this month was driven by the uncertainty of their safe return. Esha Gupta Returns to India After Being Stranded in Abu Dhabi Amid Iran-Israel War, Says ‘No One Knew What Next Minute Held’ (View Post).

Dutta is one of several Indian celebrities who were caught in the region during the recent unrest, including actors Esha Gupta and Sonal Chauhan, both of whom have also since returned to India.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 13, 2026 04:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).