5-year-old cancer survivor from Melbourne, Ryka Gulati's birthday wish finally came true this year.
For those who know her story, may remember that little Ryka battled blood cancer from the age of 2.5 till 4. In April 2016, Ryka’s family got in touch with SBS Hindi with a request.
Little Ryka, after months of undergoing cancer treatment at Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, was finally going to celebrate her fifth birthday cancer-free on 29th April.
Indian actor Salman Khan had played a pivotal role in her recovery. Khan’s film, ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ had been Ryka’s go-to source of happiness combined with entertainment when she was being treated for cancer.
Ryka's mother Vandana Gulati said, "Ryka was diagnosed in India. We brought her to Melbourne and when she was undergoing treatment, she felt she had got this illness from India and hated it.
Source: SBS Hindi
She disliked Indian food, culture, songs.. everything until one day we convinced her to see a hindi film. It was Salman Khan's Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.
She loved it. She loved the songs, the Indian dresses and Salman Khan the most. He and the film played an important role in her road to recovery. It made her smile.
So when she was going to celebrate her fifth birthday, cancer-free, her only wish was to receive birthday wishes from superstar himself."
Ryka’s mother, Vandana Gulati wrote an open letter to Salman Khan on 26th April 2016.
Source: SBS Hindi
Internet flooded Ryka with birthday wishes. Her 5th birthday party theme was Khan’s film, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and instead of receiving birthday presents, guests were requested to donate to Royal Children’s Hospital.
“My little Ryka had helped other kids in her own small way,” Vandana said.
While the little angel was successful in raising funds, her wish of receiving birthday greetings from the star did not materialize in 2016.
SBS Hindi article was shared widely by the Indian Australian community. The aim was to somehow convey Ryka’s message and share her story in a way that it would reach Salman Khan.
Ryka’s fifth birthday was celebrated without Salman’s wishes but SBS Hindi’s article had set the ball rolling.
“A representative from Salman Khan’s team, Ravi Desai got in touch with us through Twitter after he read the SBS story,” Vandana says, adding, “He told us about Salman Khan’s plans to visit Australia for a concert soon and he said we might be able to meet him when he is here.”
After months of following up with organisers and with tremendous help and support from one of the sponsors, Manhari Metal's Madhur Gupta and Make A Wish foundation, the Gulati family finally made it backstage at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne where Salman Khan was performing on 23rd April.
But it wasn't simple.
"The team told us Salman Khan would come outside and click a picture with us. But Ryka told the person, she wasn’t there to click a picture," Vandana said.
Ryka told Salman's representative that she had got a cake she wanted to cut with Salman Khan.
"I was amazed at her courage and confidence. The representative then told Salman Khan about Ryka's wish and he invited us inside his personal space," Vandana said.
"Salman Khan then introduced Ryka to all the stars present in the room. Right from Sonakshi Sinha to Bipasha Basu. He then received cards and presents made by Ryka and cleared the table to cut the cake with her.
“She was ecstatic. She couldn’t stop smiling,” Vandana says recalling their meet.
Source: Supplied
Source: Supplied
Source: Supplied
Source: Supplied
A year later, Salman Khan finally fulfilled Ryka Gulati's wish. Today, Ryka is completely cancer-free and is enrolled for Prep year at her local primary school in Melbourne.
"Wishes do come true," says Vandana Gulati who still is in awe over how magically her daughter's wish came true.
