Rubina Dilaik on parents raising her twins: Society says grandparents should retire, but my parents don't agree
Mumbai, May 23
Television superstar Rubina Dilaik has finally addressed questions and criticism surrounding why her daughters are currently staying with her senior citizen parents in hometown Shimla while she continues balancing her professional commitments in Mumbai.
Speaking candidly during an exclusive conversation with IANS, Rubina responded to online comments suggesting that grandparents should now get time to focus on their own lives instead of raising grandchildren.
Addressing the criticism, she revealed that both her parents and in-laws genuinely want to be involved in the upbringing of the children.
Rubina said, "Society says grandparents should retire and live their own lives separately, but our parents don't agree with that thought process. They willingly want to support us and be there for the children. So when they themselves are happy doing it, let the world say whatever it wants."
She added how her mother has found a new purpose of life at a senior citizen phase.
She said, "My mother tells me that when she looks into the eyes of my daughters, Jeeva and Edhaa, she feels like she has got a second life and a new purpose to live for. She wants to dedicate this phase of her life to bringing them up."
Rubina further added that even her husband and actor Abhinav Shukla's parents, despite being in their 70s, happily travel from Ludhiana to Mumbai whenever needed to be with the children and grandchildren.
Talking about the support she receives from her family, Rubina said, "It is very important to acknowledge the support that I get from my family, especially from Abhinav. Whatever I am able to achieve today is because of them. My husband taking care of my daughters more than me, my mother looking after them, my in-laws flying down specially for the kids. I am immensely grateful."
The actress who is currently in Cape Town, South Africa is prepping up for her reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi season 15, away from her twin daughters for nearly 40 days.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I get what she's saying, but I also think it's a bit convenient. She's in Cape Town for 40 days while her parents, who are senior citizens, are raising her twins in Shimla. That's not 'support'—that's full-time childcare. If the grandparents want to do it willingly, great, but it also puts a lot of pressure on them. Rubina should acknowledge the privilege she has, not just gratitude. A bit more balance in her life would be nice.
'Second life'—that's beautiful 😢. My dadi always says the same thing about my kids. Indian grandparents don't see childcare as a burden; it's their way of staying connected and relevant. Rubina's family is doing exactly what our culture has always valued. People who criticize probably don't understand the joy of multi-generational living. Kudos to her for speaking up!
I'm a working mom too, and I completely understand her situation. But I worry about the children being away from both parents for so long. 40 days is a long time for twins to be without their mother. I hope she's making up for it with video calls and quality time when she's back. Grandparents are amazing, but nothing replaces a parent's presence, especially at that age.
As someone from the US, I find this cultural difference fascinating. Here, grandparents often help out casually, but full-time childcare by seniors is less common. Rubina's parents seem genuinely happy, and that's what matters. But I do wonder: in India, isn't there also a sense of duty or obligation? Either way, if everyone's consenting and happy, it's beautiful to see family bonds this strong.
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