I remember when I was very young, my father would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up. And I would be really creative with my answers – an astronaut one day and Miss India the next. But my dad never ever expressed any doubts about me pursuing anything under the sun. That unconditional support, amongst many other things, is something I’ll always be thankful to him for. Which is why this letter written by Prakash Padukone to his daughter Deepika Padukone is really something special. The lessons he tries to put into words are invaluable and something every father would wish to tell his daughter. It’s part of the book titled Legacy: Letters from eminent parents to their daughters and a must read for every girl!
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“As you stand on the threshold of life’s journey, I want to share with you some lessons that life has taught me…. Looking back, I realize that the most important thing about my childhood and adolescent years was my refusal to complain about my lot in life…there is no substitute for perseverance, hard work, determination, and passion for what you choose to do. If you love what you do, nothing else matters — not awards, nor compensation, not even the gratification of seeing your face in newspapers or television.”
“In the last few years, we have seen you mature into a young woman who has her head on her shoulders. Maybe it is a result of the responsibilities that came your way at an early age. Sometimes parents underestimate their children’s capabilities which brings me to my other belief: you can either like what you do or you can be passionate about what you do.”
“When you are home visiting us, Deepika, you make your own bed, clear the table after meals, and sleep on the floor if there are guests at home. At home, you are not a star, and that is because we have taught you to be rooted in reality at all times. If you occasionally wonder why we refuse to treat you like a star, it is because you are our daughter first and a film star later, and we want you to remember that you have to eventually return to the real world.”
“In the end, when your career is behind you, what remains with you and for you is family, the friends that you have made who will stand by you. Live a life that is healthy, my children, and one that will allow you to live with your own conscience. Everything else is transient. And remember, no matter what, we are always going to be there for you.”
Featured Image Source: Deepika Padukone on Instagram
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