How He Navigates Screen Time With His Daughter

In an age where ‘screen time’ is often met with parental concern, actor Pratik Gandhi, known for his various roles in films and TV series including ‘Saare Jahan Se Accha’, offered a refreshing and well-grounded perspective on navigating the digital world with his 12-year-old daughter.

Speaking at a curated panel hosted by Netflix, the actor described the evolving journey of parenting in a digital-first world and emphasized that active engagement and participation rather than mere restriction is the key to a healthy digital education.

Pratik, who delved into her relationship with her daughter and their content viewing habits, shared that her daughter often sought her guidance when it came to rating content, which led to the ‘context over control’ rule. He shares, “My daughter always asks me, ‘Dad, do you mind if I watch whatever you’re filming? So (I tell her) if I sit with you, you can watch because I can create a context for you to understand.” Digging deeper into the conversation, Pratik Gandhi emphasized the power of using content as a communication bridge. He added: “Stories are the most powerful tool we have to communicate whatever we want without being preachy.”

While Pratik Gandhi has mastered the art of playing complex characters on the big screen, he admitted that his most nuanced roles are played at home. When asked if parenthood changed his perspective on his career, he shared the delicate balance between his roles as actor and father. “It’s a constant negotiation with myself. As an actor, I don’t have to judge the character, I have to create a character that people can interpret. But as a father, I think about how my daughter and her friends will interpret it.”

The hand-picked panel discussion on ‘Raising Smart Families’ brought together actor Pratik Gandhi and Netflix India Global Affairs Director Mahima Kaul; Tanya Bami, Head of Series, Netflix India; and child psychologist Dr. Shwetambara Sabharwal. Moderated by Kidsstoppress Founder Mansi Zaveri, the session served as a masterclass for the 40 parents in attendance, encouraging an honest and grounded discussion about how families can thoughtfully navigate the evolving dynamic between kids and screens.