Soha Ali Khan REACTS to Alia Bhatt-Ranbir Kapoor’s decision to keep Raha away from the camera

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt gave a major shock to fans when last month they decided to keep their daughter Raha away from the public eye, choosing to protect her privacy. Alia Bhatt's request to photographers not to capture her daughter Raha's face, following the attack on Saif Ali Khan earlier this year, has sparked a conversation about protecting children in the public eye. Soha Ali Khan, Saif's sister and mother to seven-year-old Inaaya Naumi Kemmu, has now weighed in on the decision.

Of course, Kunal and I do [have had such conversations too]! But I feel that our relationship with the media, luckily, has been respectful. I remember this instance when we took Inaaya swimming and there were some paparazzi taking pictures. We requested them not to and they didn’t. We’ve now seen that if parents request the media not to click pictures of their children, they don’t. That respect exists here. In Hollywood, perhaps, it doesn’t. We’ve thankfully not gone to that stage yet

- Soha Ali Khan

While talking to News18 Showsha, Soha acknowledges that being photographed is a part of her profession, she emphasizes that children should be able to express their discomfort and alert their parents if they feel uncomfortable being clicked. “We’ve chosen to be public figures, our children haven’t. Therefore, I feel that they shouldn’t be affected by it. Having said that, it’s a part and parcel of life. We can’t fight against it. It’s more practical to accept it and to have that conversation with your child that there’s a certain interest in you and these strange people are taking your pictures because of a certain reason," she remarks.

She continues, “We should explain to them that they need not get worried or upset but if they’re uncomfortable with it, we should talk about it and figure it out. When it comes to us, there’s definitely that place to have this conversation. And with social media, parenting has come so much more challenging. We’re navigating a whole different world where and so, we’ve to be a source of love and support for them."

Social media and the paparazzi culture are interlinked and talking about the fears that children are often exposed to, she says, “Earlier, we used to feel that our children are safe now that they’re home and in their bedrooms. Now, they may physically be with you but through the internet and social media, they’re connected. That world can also connect with and reach them. There are predators all over the world who’re preying on impressionable minds."

Soha stresses the importance of open communication between parents and children, highlighting the need to be vigilant and involved in their lives to understand their emotional well-being. She believes that children should feel comfortable expressing any discomfort they experience, whether at school or in any other environment, before it escalates. However, she acknowledges that external validation from social media can make it challenging for parents to identify these issues.