The parenting lesson every Indian mother should know

Soha Ali Khan is warm, witty, and, by her own admission, a little bit crazy at 8 pm. Not in a bad way. In the way that only parents who have a non-negotiable bedtime for their child understand completely. The kind of fierce, unwavering, this-is-not-up-for-discussion energy that kicks in at a very specific time every evening and does not apologise to anyone. In a candid interview with Tweak India, the actress opened up about her parenting philosophy, her non-negotiables, and the one lesson she learned from her mother Sharmila Tagore that has quietly shaped how she raises her daughter Inaaya Naumi Kemmu, who was born in September 2017. And it turns out that some of the best parenting wisdom skips no generation at all.

The 8 PM rule, and why she fought for it

When asked about her non-negotiables as a mother, Soha was clear and unapologetic. “Everything is up for negotiations these days,” she said. “I try and set them; I fight for them. The one thing I am fighting for is bedtime for my child at around 8 pm.” This might sound straightforward. But any Indian parent knows that a strict 8 pm bedtime is genuinely difficult to maintain, especially in families where dinner parties run late, where relatives visit in the evenings, and where the social life of adults constantly bleeds into the sleep schedules of children. Soha fought for it anyway. And eventually, everyone in her life gave in.“People who do not feel the same way have said, ‘Okay, you have this one because it seems like you get a bit crazy at 8 pm,'” she shared with a laugh. In the interest of peace, her family, her friends, and even Inaaya herself have all accepted the rule. The child must be in bed by 8 pm. No exceptions. No negotiations. No extended family event is important enough to override it. Soha also holds herself accountable. She tries to go to bed around 10:30 pm every night, not always successfully, but consistently enough that it is part of her own daily intention.

Where this rule came from: Sharmila Tagore’s wisdom

Here is the part of Soha’s story that makes it genuinely special. Sharmila Tagore, one of India’s most celebrated actresses, a woman who balanced a successful career in Hindi cinema with raising three children, was also strict about the 8 pm bedtime when Soha was growing up. Soha said that what she learned most from her mother is the importance of a routine. Not just for the child’s sake, though that is reason enough, but also for the mother’s. “It is not only because a routine is important for the child, but also because it helps a mother know where her child is likely to be at a particular time, giving her a sense of relief,” she said.This is a perspective that often gets missed in parenting conversations. A schedule is not just about discipline for the child. It is about peace of mind for the parent. Knowing that at 8 pm your child is in bed and at 10:30 pm you are too, that structure gives a mother breathing room, mental clarity, and a small but essential sense of control in a life that is otherwise beautifully unpredictable. Soha feels completely validated by the fact that her mother practiced the same rule. And because Sharmila raised three children while sustaining a remarkable career, the proof is in the parenting.

The reading rule because books come before television

Beyond bedtime, Soha has another non-negotiable for Inaaya books before screens. Her approach is direct and honest. She tells her daughter clearly: “Until you read this book, you can’t watch TV.” She acknowledges that not every child is a natural reader. That bribery and incentives are sometimes necessary. That the trick does not always work. But she is consistent about the value she is trying to build because she believes that the love of reading is one of the most important gifts a parent can give.And she also knows that the most powerful parenting tool in this particular battle is not the rule itself. It is her own example. “A parent also has to set an example, be a role model, and practice what they preach,” she said. If Inaaya sees her mother with a book in her hands, the message lands differently than if she simply hears her mother say that books are important. Children do not do what they are told. They do what they see.

The parenting lessons every Indian mother can take home

Soha Ali Khan’s interview is refreshingly real. She is not claiming to have figured everything out. She is sharing what works for her family, the battles she has chosen to fight, and the ones she has let go. But beneath the honesty, there are three clear and genuinely useful lessons. A routine is a gift you give your child and yourself. Children thrive with predictability. And mothers breathe easier when they know what comes next. An 8 pm bedtime is not a rigid rule; it is a small, consistent act of love.Fight for your non-negotiables without apology. Not every parenting choice needs to be popular. Some things are simply right for your family, and standing firm on them even when the people around you push back is not stubbornness. It is conviction. The wisdom of the generation before you is worth listening to. Sharmila Tagore raised three children and built a legendary career. The fact that her daughter is passing on her lessons to the next generation is not coincidence. Some things work because they have always worked.