Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore recently opened up about her son Saif Ali Khan’s parenting experiences and how he is raising his kids, Sara Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Taimur Ali Khan, and baby Jeh. Sharmila Tagore spoke about Saif Ali Khan’s parenting skills and how he is quite honest and down-to-earth about his kids and his life in general. The actress spoke on a podcast hosted by her daughter, Soha Ali Khan.

According to Sharmila, Saif has always been a deeply involved and responsible father, irrespective of the different phases of his life. She admitted that although times have changed over the years, his dedication to be there for his children has always been unwavering. From his younger days when his children were Sara and Ibrahim to his current life with his younger brothers Taimur and Jeh, Saif has grown with the times, never removing himself from his role as a father.
Sharmila spoke fondly about the relationship that Saif has with Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan, saying that he has always been “an excellent parent to the kids.” In spite of the demands that come with his career and the many transformations that he has gone through, Saif has made sure that his kids feel emotionally close to him.

One of the most heartwarming aspects of this interview has been when Sharmila spoke of Saif’s reaction to a situation where his health was threatened in a stabbing incident earlier this year. Saif did not coddle Taimur and Jeh by protecting them from the realities of life and instead chose to explain the situation to them in a manner that they could grasp. This has impressed Sharmila because Saif has always wanted to be “real” with his kids and not create fear by not telling them the truth.
She highlighted the point that the parenting style of Saif is based on Emotional Intelligence, where he understands the emotions of his children, responds to their queries in a truthful manner, and directs them in a way that does not involve dramatization.
The talk also covered lighter moments related to family and Saif’s philosophy on living and raising children. Sharmila shared a situation during a Christmas party with Ibrahim, when she was involved in decorating the Christmas tree. Saif drew her attention to the fact that the activity was more important than it being done perfectly. This one conversation, according to Sharmila, impacted her perspective on parenting and the importance of emotional bonding.

Sara Ali Khan, also participating in the conversation, added some comic relief and warmth to the discussion, saying that she took her emotional depth from her mother, Amrita Singh, and her intellect from her dad. Her comment is an indication that she respects and cares about both her parents, bringing out the well-rounded upbringing that she had received.
“What came out strongly in Sharmila Tagore’s remarks is her realization that Saif’s strength as a father is not in making big statements, but in making himself available honestly and consistently.” Saif Ali Khan’s mother, Sharmila Tagore, clarified that, although her son is a public person, he is dealing with fatherhood in a way that is personal and grounded in thought. As how Bollywood tends to glory in star power and glamour, incidents like these serve to bring back a refreshing dose of reality to remind one of the fact that fame and reality have real-life counterparts, namely real families and real feelings. The words of Sharmila Tagore brought Saif Ali Khan into focus not merely as a performer, but also as a dad who keeps on growing and developing and being there for his kids – one honest talk show at a time.
