M
odel and actress Isha Koppikar and restaurateur
Timmy Narang are parents of little Rianna,
who will be five this month. Isha started
modeling while still in college, and made her debut in
Telugu cinema with Chandralekha in 1998. Since then, she
has acted in a host of Tamil, Kannada and Bollywood/
Hindi movies including En Swaasa Katre, Surya Vamsha, Fiza,
Company, Kya Kool Hai Hum among others. She recently
signed up as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party just
before General Election 2019. But that hasn’t stopped her
attempting a comeback in southern cinema again, specially
Kannada and Tamil films.
Speaking to ParentsWorld, Isha explains her parenting
style, and how being a celebrity-mother makes her no
different from any other mom. She also busts several beauty
myths and stresses that there are no shortcuts to health and
looking good and fit. Excerpts:
WHAT ARE THE MOMENTS YOU ENJOY MOST WITH RI-
ANNA?
We love to play music, dance and dabble in art. She’s just
started cooking classes and she really seems to enjoy them.
Her teacher is staging a joint mother and daughter cook-
out. I am really looking forward to it.
YOU TOOK A BREATHER FROM FILMS A FEW YEARS AGO.
WAS IT BECAUSE OF MOTHERHOOD? DID YOU FEEL THE
NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR CHILD?
Yes, I wanted to give full attention to Rianna in her first
formative years. Nevertheless, I didn’t cut myself off from
the film industry entirely. I did a couple of films in south
India and Rianna travelled with me during those shoots.
But I spent most of my time with my child. I believe that
love, care, and undivided attention should be lavished on
children in their earliest years. There's no substitute for it.WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE AS A PAR-
ENT?
It’s too early to define her character because right now I
have my hands full dealing with her tantrums. Mind you,
I don't give in to my daughter’s tantrums easily because if
I do, it will spoil her and will reward bad behaviour. So, I
am firm on most occasions. But it really breaks my heart
to see Rianna sad or crying. I don’t agree that sparing the
rod spoils children. Although I am dead against corporal
punishment, I am quite strict for her own good.WHAT IS YOUR PARENTING PHILOSOPHY? WHAT KIND OF
PARENTS ARE YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND?
We are hands-on parents and we usually walk our talk.
So we try to model good behaviour to her. Basically, our
parenting philosophy is to lead by example.YOU ARE ALWAYS IN THE LIMELIGHT FIRST AS AN AC-
TRESS NOW AS A POLITICIAN. HOW DO YOU SHIELD YOUR
DAUGHTER FROM THE MEDIA GLARE, ESPECIALLY OF
SOCIAL MEDIA?
I don't believe I need to shield her from anything. I go
with the flow. There are lots of times when she wants to
be in the picture. When somebody wants to click pictures
with me — a fan, people who love me — at the airport or
in shopping malls, Rianna always wants to join in. I love
that... it’s fine with me.
The only thing I am strict about is keeping her away
from the cellphone and fancy gadgets — iPhone, the tablet,
the iPad and television as well. Television viewing time is
limited. I do all this because these gadgets can ruin a child's
eyesight and brain, so I am strict about these things.“No substitute for love,
care and attention”
Actress Isha Koppikar on how she likes
to lead her child by example, and how
she finds digital gadgets a far bigger
cause for worry than social media
INTERVIEW
NURTURING 21st CENTURY CHILDRENBHUMIKA K.