‘I don’t want to put contidions on my kids’
Actor Irrfan Khan, who’s on board the HT Paathshala initiative, says the intention of education should be to flourish kids’ personality
Afather to two sons (Ayaan and Babil),
Irrfan Khan (left) strongly believes that education encourages kids to follow their dreams. His latest film, Hindi Medium, also sheds light on the facilities available for underprivileged children in the field of education.
So, it felt like an extension of his philosophy when he associated with HT Paathshala — an educational initiative to help underprivileged children get the right kind of education. Excerpts, from a chat with the 50-year-old actor.
Tell us about your association with HT Paathshala.
I got to know about this initiative, and it’s nice to see the use of the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) fund. I wish success to this initiative.
As a father, what do you have to say about the education that your sons are getting?
I just push them in the direction of things that interest them. I don’t want to put conditions on my kids or expect a particular result from them. They should be interested in what they are doing. I do keep a check. I know that my kids would not like to learn by heart. There are systems where you don’t need to do that, where you don’t learn a lesson and replicate it.
There are different systems of education that are operating. Some, where there is no practical knowledge imparted to the children. The education is not according to their age. I don’t think we’ve explored much in this area. The intention of education should be to flourish the personality. A kid should be able to explore his talent and interests, and get introduced to subjects practically. This growing [up] age is a very tricky phase. The education system should have a proper understanding at what age which subject should be introduced.
Your film, Hindi Medium, also spreads the message of education for all. What made you sign the project?
This film is special to me. The subject and the way it was narrated convinced me to come on board. I was looking to do a comedy which parents and kids can watch together. It’s a very entertaining film.
Talking about following one’s dreams, did you always want to become an actor?
No, I discovered it much later. I wanted to become a sportsman. There were some limitations and I couldn’t get the support that I needed in my career. That was the time when I discovered that this (acting) was a very interesting field.
Was your family fine with your decision to become an actor? Also, how do they react to it now?
They never thought I would become an actor. We were not allowed to (do these things). We were traditional feudal family, so there was no ques- tion of me becoming an actor. But sometimes my mother thinks that I should go back to Jaipur and do something with the family. She misses me.
Very few people know that you and your wife Sutapa Sikdar have worked together. Tell us about that experience.
There was this time when I was doing a series and she was writing it. I had to direct it. It was an amazing. We used to have arguments, but it was productive as well. When you are working as a professional, you tend to argue.