NOT FINICKY AS A PARENT: SAIF

How do you manage to pursue other interests and do things for leisure with a packed schedule?

I love my holidays and I love doing nothing because I understand the art of living. I just did an online course on the connection between Buddhism and psychology from Princeton University. They had some lovely tutorials which were beautifully explained. I can spend time at leisure and feel enriched, but at some point, you’ve got to go to work because otherwise its meaningless.

With Taimur’s arrival and Kareena going back to work, how are you and Kareena juggling your time with him?

During the first schedule [of Veere Di Wedding], she took him [to Delhi] and I was very happy [to be alone] at home (laughs). I love being by myself but after a couple of days I missed having them around.

But I am not very finicky as a parent. He [Taimur] is part of my life and this is for the long haul. I like my space and I like having them around also. We [Kareena and I] are lucky we have help and we have distraction because, I do think that sometimes having a child can be overwhelming if you don’t have breathing space. Some people have a lower tolerance for claustrophobia and I am one of them.

I won’t be happy if I have to be around them all the time. In the second schedule, Taimur was alone with me and he was looking a little sad. But now he is happy that Kareena is back. The house also feels balanced because we need her energy.

Taimur is a star, especially with the paparazzi. Has that ever bothered you?

You have to see how he looks at a camera. If you point your phone at him, he will look at you.

It’s just that way ever since he was born. I think he’s gotten used to it. You can’t shield your kid because then it will become weird. Our paparazzi is anyway, pretty harmless because they just want a picture for their job so they can feed themselves. We are the only nation that poses for the paparazzi. They take the picture and everyone is happy. I told Kareena, “Let’s not hide him.” If everybody calms down, there is less chaos and less people getting stamped on and pushed. Now it’s chilled and everyone’s used to it. It’s no big deal.

Taimur was alone with me and he was looking a little sad. But now he is happy that Kareena is back. The house also feels balanced because we need her energy at home. SAIF ALI KHAN, ACTOR