Actor Manoj Bajpayee recently shared his views on parenting and asserted how children today are overly protected by their parents. He further mentioned how it is okay for kids to sometimes see their parents as the ‘villains’, and added how it’s important for children these days to build character in early years.
During an interview with RJ Raunaq, Manoj was asked about the challenges faced by the current generation compared to his own. In his answer, the actor mentioned that there has been a shift in family structures from joint to nuclear families, and hence, most families treat their children as trophies. He further highlighted the importance of preparing children for the harsh realities of the outside world.
Manoj stated, “It’s a serious topic, and one that I think about frequently. We cushion our kids too much. We’ve moved away from joint families to nuclear families. We live in cities, and we start perceiving our children as our trophies. We forget that the same child has to face the world, and that we need to guide them, teach them, give them the right tools.”
He further talked about the influence of social media on today’s youth, and how they are often confined to their screens. “What’s the harm in parents being perceived by their kids as the villains? As it is, they’re not going to care about you when they become adults. Sometimes, even when they’re in their early teens they can't ignore you while they’re sitting next to you. They will eventually move on from you,” he shared.
Manoj further asserted that people should stop seeing their children as personal trophies because love is ruining their lives. He mentioned how it is important to draw clear lines, tell them the amount of time they have for digital consumption. “They will cry, they will argue, they will feel tortured, but it’s good for them. I’ll be the villain, but it’s good for the child. The child will hate me? It’s fine, it’s good for his life. You’re going to be the villain either way," Manoj signed off.
On the work front, the actor is all set to reprise his role as Srikant Tiwari in the third season of ‘The Family Man’. In the show, he plays the part of a ‘middle-class guy and a world class spy’.
