“My dad is my superhero because he has this tenacity of spirit. He’s a fighter, regardless of whatever obstacles life throws his way,” Nada Jumabhoy, a lawyer in the public sector, says smilingly of her father, Iqbal. “My father always does the right thing. He is a really good person, and he doesn’t have a bad bone in his body. I think this is truly inspiring in a world where self-interest trumps a lot of other things, and where, often, doing the right thing isn’t the easiest.”
Calling himself the luckiest father in the world, Iqbal who is the CEO at Edge Capital says: “My princess is smart, capable, beautiful and truly nice.” She tells him straight if he’s being inconsiderate, or he can tell right away from her expression, he shares. “I’ve learned to be more considerate from Nada. Like me, her feelings are written on her face and this motivates me to do better. We are very open with each other.”
They both love music, and enjoy going out, travelling and food, he adds.
Nada credits her father for her love of music: “He would always play something, whether a cassette or a CD in the car and now on Spotify. He knows so much about different genres of music, and is always listening to something new and exciting.
“He is also definitely ‘Daddy Cool’. When he’s out, you can trust that he will be the life of the party. Often, I think he is more social than my brother or me, and he has the best sense of humour! I think I would be less of a person if it weren’t for him.”
Father and daughter catch up over long walks in the Singapore Botanic Gardens in the weekends with their dog, where they talk about “anything and everything”, Iqbal says. “My father joins as well, and that is really nice for family bonding.
“Nada is close to me and my wife, and shares quite openly with us. She shares with me what is making her happy or sad, and I do the same. We also discuss business and personal issues. We’ve had this relationship since she was young, and I’m happy that it has continued till today.”
Asked if she’s daddy’s favourite, Nada replies with an emphatic yes. So is her younger brother Imran her mum Maniza’s favourite then? With a wag of her finger and a twinkle in her eyes, Nada replies: “I am their favourite, but my brother might beg to differ!”
Art direction: Audrey Chan
Photography: Joel Low
Hair: Sean Ang
Make-up: Keith Bryant Lee, using Armani Beauty, and Sophia Chia/Makeup Pros
Photography assistance: Alfie Pan
Location: Siri House
