Dubai-based Indian businessman Satish Sanpal celebrated Father’s Day with an extravagant gesture that quickly went viral online. He gifted his one-year-old daughter, Isabella, a custom-built pink Rolls-Royce, complete with monogrammed interiors, a personalised nameplate reading “Congratulations, Isabella,” and a handwritten note.
The founder of ANAX Developments was seen arriving at the showroom with his wife Tabinda and their toddler, as pink balloons, music, and dance performances marked the dramatic car unveiling. The luxury car gift, meant for someone who won’t be eligible to drive for another 17 years, drew mixed reactions on social media.
Not Isabella’s First Lavish Moment
This wasn’t Isabella’s first taste of luxury. In February, her first birthday party was held at Atlantis The Royal, one of Dubai’s most premium hotels. The venue was converted into a winter-themed dreamscape with fake snow, crystal chandeliers, and white trees. Bollywood stars including Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Tamannaah Bhatia, Atif Aslam, and Nora Fatehi performed at the celebration. Isabella arrived in a princess-style carriage, dressed in a ball gown that resembled a fairytale outfit.
Mixed Reactions Online
While the video of the Rolls-Royce surprise went viral with captions praising Sanpal as the ultimate “Dubai Dad,” many online users weren’t impressed. Several comments mocked the gesture as excessive and unnecessary. One pointed out, “It must feel great to get a gift you can’t use for 17 years,” while another remarked, “Money clearly doesn’t buy class.” Some said toddlers are often happiest with simple things like empty boxes and containers, not luxury cars.
Others viewed it as another example of wealth being flaunted for online applause. A user bluntly stated, “Another show-off, we are not impressed.”
A Larger Question of Values
Sanpal’s gesture has reignited conversations about parenting in the age of social media, especially in a country like India where many children lack basic necessities. While gifting luxury items to children isn’t new in elite circles, showcasing such moments online with dramatic flair tends to divide public opinion.
Supporters may see it as a father’s way of expressing love. Critics see it as a tone-deaf display in a world already overwhelmed by performative luxury.
A Viral Childhood
With a luxury car she can’t drive, designer clothes she’ll outgrow, and a social media presence many adults would envy, baby Isabella is growing up in the spotlight. Whether this grand gesture becomes a cherished family memory or just another fleeting viral moment remains to be seen.
