Actor Imran Khan may have been away from the movies for a while, but fans are waiting to see him back on-screen. He also has continued to keep people updated about his life through social media and has set a major inspiration also as a single father. Imran and Avantika Malik got separated in 2024 and since then they’ve been co-parenting their daughter. In an earlier interview with ETimes, Imran had spoken about his bonding with daughter Imara and called her his ‘lighthouse’ amidst all the personal struggle he went through during divorce. The actor has been dating Lekha Washington now for a while and in a recent interview, he has spoken about how he introduced his daughter to his girlfriend. Imran revealed that because Lekha had been a part of their lives even before they began dating, the transition was easier, but he still believed it was important to be upfront with Imara about the change in their relationship. He said in an interview with Hindustan Times, “Lekha and I knew each other before we started dating and so Imara knew her too. It’s just the context of the relationship that changed and I wanted her to know when it happened. It’s part of being transparent. Trying to conceal anything from a child is unhealthy. That’s not how you build a healthy relationship.”For the actor, honesty and leading by example are central to parenting. Rather than simply instructing children on how to behave, he believes parents should model the values they hope to instil. “Kids do what you do and not what you say. So I want to live my life in a way where I’m setting a healthy example for her. It’s important to speak to kids like they are rational, thinking beings and not treat them as lesser.”As Imara has grown older, Imran says their relationship has naturally evolved. With a laugh, he admitted that he is no longer the “cool” parent around her friends. “We’ve reached a phase where I’m uncool in front of her friends; I still shout out ‘I love you’, but I’m not cool enough to hang out with her friends,” he laughs.Fatherhood has also reshaped the way Imran looks at films and storytelling. Watching children’s content alongside his daughter has made him more conscious of how women are portrayed on screen. “I have started viewing the world through her lens. When I watch cartoons or movies with her, I realise that I do not like how female characters are being represented. Misogyny is reinforced. It nudged me to start seeking out positive female representation in my films as well,” he admits.The 43-year-old also shared that he intentionally kept Imara away from the spotlight for much of her childhood. It wasn’t until she began noticing strangers approaching him that he explained why people recognised him. “I kept her away for most part. People would react to me and at some point, she asked me, ‘Why do people keep taking photos with you?’ Then I had to explain to her that I acted in some movies and people remember me from there. I have not shown her any of my films, for her it’s still outsiders walking up and greeting me.”Technology is another area where Imran believes moderation is essential. He said he has introduced clear boundaries around digital devices for his daughter. “I am fairly conservative on tech adoption. Not just kids, but everyone is too online today. So, I’ve put guidelines on tech adoption for Imara.”Away from the public eye, the father-daughter duo enjoys simple moments together, from rollerblading to haircare. Imran admitted that learning to manage his daughter’s long hair has been an experience in itself.“I don’t have as much hair as she does,” the actor laughs, adding, “Learning to shampoo, condition and blow dry her hair is stuff I had to learn by doing it. I started off by making ugly plaits that were embarrassing. But I am better now. It’s been an entire journey.”
