This International Men's Day, veteran Bollywood actress and wellness advocate Bhagyashree shifted the conversation towards celebrating responsible and empathetic men. Drawing from her personal experiences as a mother, she highlighted the core values she instilled in her own children, son Abhimanyu and daughter Avantika.
Equality as a Foundational Home Value
For Bhagyashree, the principle of gender equality is not a public slogan but a daily practice that begins within the family. She firmly believes that household behaviour and responsibilities should never be dictated by gender. She never allowed traditional gender roles to define the duties of her son and daughter.
She provided a simple, powerful example from their daily life. "It never happened that Abhimanyu returned tired and asked Avantika to fetch water for him. No, that does not work. He goes and gets his own water," Bhagyashree explained. This conscious approach was a cornerstone of her children's upbringing, ensuring both became self-reliant individuals.
Building Self-Sufficient and Empathetic Individuals
Bhagyashree made sure that both her children viewed domestic skills as essential life tools, not as gendered chores. A key area of focus was cooking. "Cooking was something they both enjoyed, together or on their own," she shared. She equipped both Abhimanyu and Avantika to cook not just for themselves, but also for their future partners.
Challenging a popular saying, she added, "People say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but I also feel a woman appreciates it when a man helps in the kitchen." This reflects her belief in mutual effort and respect in a partnership.
A Balanced Childhood for a Respectful Worldview
The actress intentionally fostered a balanced environment for her children. "Both my kids were outdoor babies," she noted, emphasizing a childhood filled with diverse experiences. When children grow up with a blend of education, sports, and equality at home, they naturally learn to engage with the world with mutual respect.
For Bhagyashree, raising a son who cooks, cleans, and contributes is not about adhering to modern labels. It is fundamentally about building a man who intrinsically values partnership, responsibility, and independence.
This International Men's Day, her message is a tribute to men who show up, listen, care, and participate actively in their homes and relationships. She celebrates those men who take responsibility, treat everyone equally, and carry forward values that ultimately strengthen the very fabric of homes and society.
