If I am a good father, it is because I have an exceptional father: Abhinav Shukla

For actor Abhinav Shukla, Father’s Day isn’t about elaborate celebrations. It is about spending time with his twin daughters, Edhaa and Jeeva, doing what they enjoy most. “It will be a usual day,” he says, adding, “I’ll take them swimming, then to a play area, and maybe we’ll cut a cake in the evening.

They already look forward to cake days. They call them ‘Happy Happy’.”Fatherhood has changed more than just his daily routine; it has altered the way he thinks about work, responsibility and the future. “I am working on my own projects now and I don’t feel the compulsion to work for someone else. I also feel accountable not just to my daughters but to all children growing up today. I want to help make the world a better place for them, so you may see more activism from me in the future.”Known for his love of trekking and mountaineering, Abhinav says introducing his daughters to the outdoors was always something he wanted to do. “It was my dream to do outdoor activities with my kids. We recently went on a daytime camping trip, and I made a video to preserve those memories. People really loved it. In another few months, I hope to take them on a high-altitude trek. They are incredibly intelligent, and their honest questions and genuine smiles keep me constantly amused.

”When asked what qualities he hopes they inherit from him, he laughs and says, “Almost all of them except my dancing skills.” As a parent, he describes himself as attentive without being overprotective. “I watch out for threats, but I’m not overbearing. I let them be kids, though there are a few non-negotiables where I’m firm. In many Indian homes, children constantly hear, ‘Don’t do this’, ‘Don’t do that’, ‘Keep quiet’.

I try to avoid that. This is the phase of life without deadlines, pressure, alarm clocks or competition. I want them to cherish it,” he says.‘I can now see the cycle of life’Fatherhood has also made him appreciate his own parents in a new light. “I am even more grateful to them now because I can see the cycle of life. We didn’t have much growing up, but they still raised us so well. My respect and gratitude for them have only grown. I always say that if I am a good father, it is because I have an exceptional father.”