Bollywood actor and director Kunal Kemmu describes his parenting style as “very old school”. While he believes in keeping things simple and setting clear rules for his daughter, he also recognises that children today are growing up with greater awareness and are encouraged to express their feelings. In a conversation with comedian Kenny Sebastian on the Simple Ken Podcast, Kemmu spoke about his approach to discipline, his role as the fun parent and how watching his daughter grow up has changed the way he sees fatherhood.
“When I’m speaking, do not interrupt”
5 Oct 2026 | 12:06
Parents, when your child refuses to greet relatives, do you make them say hello or respect their choice?
When Sebastian asked how his parenting style differed from that of other parents, Kemmu described his approach as simple and traditional. “If you’re hungry, eat whatever you like. If it’s lunchtime, you eat,” he said, explaining that he prefers straightforward rules rather than turning everyday decisions into lengthy discussions.He also believes children should learn to listen before responding. “I won’t listen to what you want to say. Just listen to me first and then I’ll listen to you, but we’ll have turns. And when I’m speaking, do not interrupt,” he said. However, one of his comments revealed the more traditional side of his thinking. “We’re not going to talk about your feelings right now. We’ll get to that later when you’re old enough to understand what your feelings are,” he said.
Why he thinks parents sometimes ask children too many questions
Kemmu said he has noticed that parents today are more inclined to involve children in everyday decisions, including what they want to eat. “The way we are going as parents, they’ll be telling us exactly what to eat in a few years because we’re so in tune with, ‘What do you feel?’” he said. He questioned whether parents always need to ask children what they want instead of making a decision themselves. “I’m like, ‘You’re not supposed to ask them. Why are you asking her? She doesn’t know anything. You tell her.’ ‘No, we must listen to them.’ So I’m kind of learning. I’m the baby in this relationship,” he said.
“I already miss that time…”
Kunal with his family.
The conversation also turned to how Kemmu’s experience of fatherhood has changed as his daughter has grown older. During the podcast, Sebastian spoke about his own experience of watching a child move through different stages, from learning to walk and talk to becoming more independent. Kemmu related to the feeling of watching childhood pass quickly. “I was going through those pictures the other day. And I was like, ‘Oh my God, she’s already looking so different. Like, when did this happen? Why can’t I go back to that time?’” he said.He described how children can change in ways that surprise their parents. “But I think it’s amazing, man. Like, one day they’re learning how to talk, the other day they’re schooling you on things, then they’re kind of doing a backflip and you’re like, ‘Wow, when did this happen? When did I miss this one?’” he said.
Why he sees himself as the fun parent
Kemmu also spoke about the role he plays in his household. He said he is often there for the fun parts of parenting, partly because he feels he is not always expected to handle everything else. “But I do feel like, at least in my house, I’m there for the fun stuff mostly because I don’t think I’m allowed to do anything else because there’s a fear of…” he said, before Sebastian described him as the fun parent.When Sebastian asked whether he disciplined his daughter, Kemmu said he did. He also recalled that his wife, actor Soha Ali Khan, had noticed that their daughter listened to him without talking back. “So I got my own thing now, and I think, like, Soha was envious of me. She was like, ‘She listens to you. She doesn’t talk back to you,’ and all that,” he said.He linked this to his approach of keeping discussions about feelings within limits, although he did not suggest that discipline should involve shouting. “I mean, that’s how we were brought up. I mean, I’m not saying I’m for disciplining by shouting at them. Of course, like healthy boundaries,” he said.
What surprises him about children today
Kemmu also acknowledged that children today can be more informed than parents might expect. “Kids are, like, now what’s amazing is I think kids are so much more aware because of the conversations that they’re having,” he said. As an example, he recalled a time when his daughter spoke to him about whale migration.
What parents can take away from this
Kemmu’s approach combines the parenting style he grew up with and the adjustments he is making as a father. He values listening, turn-taking and clear boundaries, while acknowledging that children today are growing up in a different environment.His comments also give a new point-of-view for parents: teaching children to listen does not have to mean dismissing their feelings. Children can learn to wait their turn, follow routines and respect rules while still being encouraged to explain what they think and feel. Parents do not need to turn every everyday decision into a negotiation. They can make age-appropriate decisions while giving children meaningful choices where possible. And when a child is upset, listening to the emotion does not mean giving in to every demand.
