Unlike some B-Town actresses who usually have a battalion of nannies to take care of their kids, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan believes in doing it herself. She makes sure her daughter, Aaradhya, accompanies her wherever possible and their cutesy Instagram pictures warm the cockles of our hearts. We speak to Ash about the bond that she shares with her daughter, who is the ‘love of her life’.
A Regular Upbringing
Talking about modern-day parenting, the Fanney Khan actress says, “Usually, when kids are in the spotlight, they tend to lose their innocence. Aaradhya has still managed to retain that. I have tried to give her a normal upbringing and have never made much ado about it. At the same time, we also have to accept that this is and will be her reality.”
Initial Hiccups
Although now Aishwarya seems comfortable with the paparazzi clicking pictures of her daughter, she admits that at one point, she was ‘confused and worried’. She avers, “When Aaradhya was much younger, I had seen a few international celebs having discussions about maintaining security for their kids and that does shape the way you are, when your time comes.”
Your protective instincts are naturally strong towards your newborn. It’s what I reacted and responded to — there wasn’t any panic or drama to it.” She adds, “It wasn’t about covering my baby’s face from being photographed. It was just about protecting her from the mayhem and flashlights,” she says.
Make It Normal
There has been a debate about this paparazzi culture, especially when it comes to celebrity kids. Some actors have strongly voiced their opinion against the growing intrusion and said it hampers a child. But Ash maintains a different stance on the issue. She tells us, “You need to understand that you are in the day of social media and everything’s out there on full blast. So what are you going to scream hoarse about? I never did. My idea was to make it normal for her. It’s abnormal to us because that’s not what we have been exposed to as children, which is also why we wonder whether it would be okay for our kids. At least, you will attach it to certain occasions outside the house or at the airports. That’s what my life with her exposed her to and we have tried and found normalcy in that.”
She further states, “It’s important to not be alarmed or fazed by all of this. I wanted Aaradhya to experience that and focus on how travelling with me so early in life would help her develop her own personality.”
Maa-Beti Time
Despite her work commitments, the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil actress ensures she makes time for her six-year-old. She smiles and says, “Walking the streets here is not possible and whatever two-three parks I could go to with her, I did. I have just snuck into little pockets in and around Mumbai to give her a taste of that side, too. If I spotted a slide on the way and not many people were around, I have taken Aaradhya there. Thankfully, the media had no clue about it. Abroad, this isn’t a problem at all, so things like these are easier.” Laughing, she continues, “I can see a mini-me in Aaradhya. I go every day with her to school to drop and pick her up. I do it because I like to do it. I enjoy the time that we spend together. I’m blissed out and that’s the contentment that everyone gets to see. I’m glad about the choices I’ve made with regards to her. I’ll continue being protective, but I’ll still keep on trying to make everything normal.”
Don’t Need An Entourage
Stars and their kids are usually spotted with an entourage of people, around them. But the light-eyed actress doesn’t conform to such ideas. “I would not send her off with my staff. I’d rather be with her because that’s how I’ve always thought I’d be,” she admits. “I’m home, so what am I fussing about? Maybe, people think I should hit the gym, lose some weight, but I wanted to be with my daughter. I haven’t kept a posse of nurses — maybe, I would just have one and when they would take leave, I’d be doing everything all alone. So many times, my narrations have got cancelled because I was busy catering to my baby,” she smiles. “Now, when I travel abroad, I don’t take help because I can manage Aaradhya on my own. It’s nice to see that today, she is so comfortable with the paparazzi,” she signs off.
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 "Aishwarya-Aaradhya")
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