Twinkle Khanna Speaks About Her Children Being Compared On Skin Colour: ‘I Decided That…’

Bollywood star Twinkle Khanna, wife of actor Akshay Kumar, recently opened up about parenting her two children, Aarav and Nitara, emphasising the importance of teaching them self-love and acceptance, particularly regarding their physical appearance. In a candid conversation during a session with FICCI FLO, Khanna shared how she navigates the often-sensitive subject of skin colour differences between her children.

Twinkle, who has been married to Akshay Kumar for over two decades, revealed that there are frequent comparisons made between her children’s skin tones. Aarav, her eldest, and Nitara, her younger daughter, often find themselves measured against each other, with their contrasting complexions being a point of focus in their social circles. Twinkle expressed that such comparisons, prevalent in Indian society, prompted her to take a proactive approach to instilling confidence in her children.

“I learnt a lot with my first child. And I think your first child tends to be that manual. You experiment a little bit on that child,” Twinkle remarked, reflecting on her parenting journey. “With my second one, what I realised was that there was always this comparison between her and her brother in skin colour or things like that,” she continued. “And I decided that I am going to make sure that she believed she is absolutely wonderful.”

Twinkle recounted how she celebrated Nitara’s unique features, reinforcing the message that beauty comes in all forms. For instance, when Nitara struggled with her appearance, Twinkle likened her to iconic figures like Frida Kahlo, encouraging her to embrace her unibrow as a symbol of beauty and strength. “If she is brown, I would tell her that her skin is golden,” Khanna said, reinforcing her commitment to nurturing self-love.

One of Twinkle’s proudest moments, she shared, came when Nitara confidently embraced her complexion during a family outing. “We were going to the beach, and Aarav was putting on sunblock. Nitara said, ‘I don’t really need so much sunblock because my skin is greater than yours.’ She added, ‘A white T-shirt gets dirty but a brown T-shirt doesn’t. You can’t see it, so I am greater.’” Twinkle expressed immense pride in her daughter’s self-assurance, calling it a “triumph” in her parenting journey.

Twinkle and Akshay Kumar, who married on January 17, 2001, have two children. Their son, Aarav, was born in September 2002, followed by Nitara in September 2012. The couple continues to be dedicated to raising their children in a loving and supportive environment.