What are some differences you notice between your upbringing and the one you give to your children?

Times have changed. Now when I think back to my upbringing, every sniffle and cough wasn’t a cause for alarm. My parents would take us around the neighborhood [without a worry] and nothing could or would happen. But I’m constantly walking on eggshells. Does that mean that I don’t give them enough leeway to become independent? No. My children are great travellers, and they’ve been exposed to the world way more than I was at that age. My first international flight was at the age of 18! But even on our train journeys prior to that, there was a lot of adventure. I feel like my parents had a big sense of adventure while I was growing up. Every summer we would go on 48-hour-long train rides, take road trips from Nainital to Delhi without any plans, and a lot more.

How would you describe your relationship with your mother?

I try travelling with her every chance I get. Any time I’m in her arms, it feels like home. It feels like nothing can go wrong when I’m with her. She’s my world – be it to plan a trip, for recipes, to get advice…anything! Even today when I go back to Delhi and my mum opens the door, I let out a sigh of relief.

Complete the sentence: my mother is like no other because...

It’s unfair to say my mother is like no other. I feel all mothers are great. They always know what’s best for their kids. Even kids know that when they’re with their mothers, nothing can go wrong. [With mothers], no food on the table can taste bad; no amount of worry can worry you; no amount of trouble can trouble you; and no amount of pain can hurt you. It’s not just for my mom; I feel it applies to all moms. No matter what they are going through or how much work they have, they are the best versions of themselves for their children and nobody can take that away from any mother — here or anywhere.

What are some values that you’ve learned from your mother that you hope to pass on to your children?

My mom has this kind of unending hustle. She finds extreme optimism even in the various ups and downs of life. [She has an unmatched sense of] humour. She believes in working hard, and then letting life take its own turn. She is always there for her family. She’s a problem-solver – not just for us, but also for the extended family! If I can achieve even half of the bond that exists between me and my mother with my daughter, it’ll be a win for me!

Given your demanding career, how do you juggle between your professional commitments and making time for your family?

It’s all about prioritising. It’s about managing the time you can make, and the time that you actually make [for your family]. I try to travel with my family whenever possible – even if it’s just for one day.

You’ve always been vocal about voicing your opinions. How do you approach discussing important topics with your kids?

For me, it’s always about having age-appropriate conversations. I don’t want them to grow up sooner than their time. My children are at the cute age where they ask important questions and deal with situations in a unique way. And I’m totally okay with that. But to be able to exercise their voice is something that needs to be taught early.

When my daughter was growing up–I was around her a lot more than I am now – one of the first words I taught her was ‘bas’ (‘enough’). “Bas, I don’t want any more food,” or “Bas, stop pulling my cheeks.” She needs to know where her boundaries are. I’m just giving them a certain amount of independence and some magic words. At the same time, let children be children. There’s no pressure to excel or be a certain way. I don’t want to raise my children in an environment that makes them feel pressured. We’re [she and her husband Angad] not overly relaxed and at the same time we’re not very strict. It’s about treading that fine balance and making sure your kids are happy, safe, and healthy.

What would be your ideal mother-daughter trip?

I would ideally like to travel all around Europe. We’re planning a girl’s trip in summer to Paris and the South of France. My daughter wants to travel on trains like Mr. Bean! We’re also waiting for my son to get a little older to show him the Christmas lights in London or to take him somewhere where there is snow. Of course, there’s also Disneyland.

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