R Madhavan on one parenting mantra he used on son Vedant: 'Don't give them free time'

R Madhavan (Pic/ X)

Actor R Madhavan is a proud father to his teenage son, Vedant Madhavan. The actor often speaks about parenting Vedant alongside his wife, Sarita Birje. Vedant is an international-level swimmer who has won several medals for India.

R Madhavan on his parenting style

In a recent conversation on the 100 Year Life Project by ACKO with Radhika Gupta, Madhavan opened up about modern parenting, social awareness, and the parenting rule that shaped the way he raised his son.

During the conversation, Madhavan said he wanted his son to understand his privileges and grow up with a sense of gratitude.

"The one thing I made sure Vedant did was acknowledge people around him, the liftman, the guard, the drivers, and treat them with respect. I never wanted him to use dismissive terms. I wanted him to address people politely. When a watchman once told me, ‘He always says namaste to me,' I felt my job as a parent was done," Madhavan shared.

When Madhavan got a parenting advice from Canada

Madhavan also recalled a parenting lesson he learned during his stay in Canada many years ago. He lived in a town where teenage pregnancy, drug use, and alcohol abuse were common among the youth. However, one family stood out for how grounded and disciplined their children were.

"I happened to ask the lady of the house many years later, ‘How did you manage to do this?' She gave me advice that I followed wholeheartedly, and it really worked for my son," he said.

According to Madhavan, the advice was simple: "Don't give your child free time."

"She told me, ‘Keep your child engaged in things they genuinely enjoy. Their interests may change, their level of commitment may change, but make sure they don't have too much idle time until they're 15 or 16. Let them move from one activity to another, but it should be fun, never a chore, otherwise they'll start hating it,'" he recalled.

R Madhavan's work front

The actor was last seen in the film Dhurandhar: The Revenge where he played Ajay Sanyal. The actor underwent major transformation to play the role in the Aditya Dhar-directorial.