Imran Khan has opened up about a painful aspect of single parenting, saying he often struggles to arrange playdates for his daughter, Imara, because some parents hesitate to send their children to a home where a single man lives. The actor said he understands why some mothers feel cautious, but the repeated refusals have been difficult because he has had to tell his daughter, week after week, that her friends cannot come over.
Imran Khan talks about single-parenting challenges
Speaking to Parineeti Chopra on her show Mom Talks, Imran said his daughter stays with him for part of the week, and arranging playdates becomes hard when she is at his home.
He recalled, “I would try to make plans. And Imara would ask me, “Can you ask this friend if they can come over to play?” So I would find the number and message one mom: “Can so-and-so come over to play?” And they would say, “Sorry, not today.” Next week again: “Hi, can we do it?”, they are like, “No, not today.”
Imran said he slowly realized that some parents were not comfortable sending their children, especially daughters, to a single father’s house. He said, “I’m a man and I’m the father, but since I’m divorced now, there is no woman at home.”
Imran Khan says the situation was heartbreaking
The actor said the refusals continued even after several attempts. “So I would try and make a plan, and they would say, ‘Sorry, not today,’ ‘Sorry, busy,’ ‘Sorry, tennis class today,’ ‘Sorry, tuition today” And it would be like this enough times that even after four times I had asked, it was still a ‘no’.”
Imran said he did not dismiss the concern behind that hesitation. “So, look, we also live in a world where there are enough problematic men. You can kind of understand where this thinking comes from. It was heartbreaking because week after week I had to tell my daughter, “Sorry, your friend can’t come.””
Parineeti responded that a single mother would likely receive more empathy. “If the same thing was a female single parent, I don’t even want to say single mother, just a single parent, I don’t think they would have this problem,” she said.
Imran also spoke about the lack of emotional support for single fathers. He said male friendships often carry ideas like “yaar, bro, be a man, don’t be weak,” which can leave vulnerable feelings unaddressed.
In an earlier conversation with this publication, Imran said he and his ex-wife, Avantika Malik, share custody. “Thursday to Sundays, she is with me. I put her to bed, read to her at night, get her up in the morning, pack her dabba, drive her to school and pick her up from school. Because this is the most valuable for me,” he said.
Imran married Avantika in 2011. They welcomed Imara in June 2014 and later separated after eight years of marriage. In 2024, he confirmed his relationship with actress Lekha Washington.
Disclaimer: This article reports personal reflections on single parenting, family structures, and social perceptions. It is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not offer psychological, relationship, or family counseling advice.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the
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