Agony Dad: Shahrukh Khan
Hi!BLITZ|August 2015
Hollywood thinks Brad Pitt is the ideal dad, but here in Bollywood Tag Heuer brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan could easily win the top slot. Despite a punishing work schedule, his parenting skills are talked about in awe by colleagues and friends. With son Aryan who is 17 and daughter Suhana who is 14, the superstar has entered the minefield of teenage issues. Shalini Sharma calls upon the stars parenting experience to help other parents navigate troubled waters.
Shalini Sharma
Agony Dad: Shahrukh Khan

Kids in their teens are difficult. As a father how would you advise parents to deal with this phase?

I have about five years of teenage parenting experience. During which I have realized teenagers don’t like being asked, told or talked to, so be silent in front of them, unless they start a conversation. I believe in speaking to them only when they want to be spoken to.

But of course there are some issues that need to be addressed like friendship, life, studies, etc., so my advice is to try and make the conversation a bit fun and playful. Play it on the back foot. Tell them ‘You are doing this, I know this is not my place, you know everything, but I don’t, so please explain it to me.’

Parenting seems to have become such a stressful exercise…

Parents should not worry too much about how their kids will turn out to be. Remember how stupid you were as a kid. In my case I was a fool and I turned out fine. Also there is no point in impinging your ideas on the kid—doctor baan jayo, actor baan jayo. If you have been a good role model perhaps they will follow your profession. If they don’t, that is fine.

Till when were you hands-on with your kids’ studies? And as a star are you entitled to skip the school PTA meetings?

I taught them till class 8 as I enjoy the process of acquiring knowledge. After that I lost what they were doing. I have attended every PTA meeting, except one. Sachin Tendulkar and I wait outside the class like any other parent if we are late. The rules in fact, are even stricter for us.

This story is from the August 2015 edition of Hi!BLITZ.

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This story is from the August 2015 edition of Hi!BLITZ.

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