Unlike other Bollywood movies that showcase how treating parents as Gods is all about sanskaars, Dear Zindagi took a more honest and refreshing take on parenting!
No one can deny that Dear Zindagi, starring Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan, had some great life lessons to offer. This movie touched on the topic of mental health and relationships with an unprecedented level of sensitivity and sensibility. Touching upon the various taboo topics of therapy, mental illness, homosexuality, and many more, this movie remains close to our hearts.Â
One particular thing that touched many was its mature take on parenting. It was quite amazing to see a take on parenting that was way different from the conventional perspective of most Bollywood movies. Rather than showing parents as the perfect role model, it showcased how parents can be flawed in certain ways; how parents can also make mistakes! This honest take on parenting is what makes this movie stand out.Â
Being A Parent Is Difficult & So Is Being A Kid
In a particular scene, a relative mentions how being a parent is a difficult job, and children do not understand that. How parenting is an endless job! At that moment, Kaira (Alia Bhatt) chooses to confront her parents for abandoning her. Without being preachy, this scene is so powerful and relatable. She mentions how it isn’t the best thing to blame children for their negative emotions. It’s tough being a parent, but it’s equally tough to be a child.
We tend to forget that parenting is not something that our parents are taught. It’s what they learn through their experiences. Hence, it is quite unfair to expect parents to be flawless. While growing up, kids are made to believe that what their parents do is always right. We tend to put them on a pedestal. And, hence, this scene makes so much sense that parents should own their mistakes.
Can We Look At Our Parents As Flawed Humans?
In a separate scene, when Kaira opens up about her past, Dr. Jehangir (Sharukh Khan) talks about how we tend to forget to look at our parents as humans. Though this is a much calmer response, it also talks about how we need to stop putting our parents on a pedestal and start viewing them as people who tend to make mistakes. While we shouldn’t expect them to be flawless, that shouldn’t stop us from holding them accountable for their mistakes.
Parents Are Not Hereos; They Are Humans
This beautiful take on parenting is just a reminder of how parents should be more approachable and honest with their kids about their life and mistakes. Parents should stop hiding their flaws just to seem perfect to their kids. Because their tendency to showcase themselves as perfect, builds additional pressure on their kids to be perfect or have it all figured out just like them.Â
This movie is a reminder that the relationship between parents and kids would be much better if both kids and parents remember that parents are humans and not heroes! They can also make mistakes!
*All images are screengrabs from Dear Zindagi (Netflix)