‘Mere mataji aur pitaji ne kabhi mujhe…’: When Anant Ambani opened up about battling health issues with positivity and grace; importance of parental support

Speaking to India Today, Anant once reflected on how he built emotional fortitude despite public scrutiny around his health. “Mere mataji aur pitaji ne kabhi mujhe yeh bhi feel hone nai dia ki mei thoda bhi beemar hu. Aur jaisa aap bol rahe thei aaju baju wale joh bolte hai unse mujhe kuch lena dena nai hai (My mother and father never even let me feel that I was even a little unwell. And as you were saying, I have nothing to do with what people around me say),” he said. “Kyuki bolne wale ka kaam hai bolna aur unko bhi, hame bhi yaha jeena hai. Hum sab haath jodhkar jeeye (Because it’s people’s job to talk and just like them, we also have to live here. So let’s all live with folded hands).” 

Nita Ambani, too, has opened up about her son’s challenges. At the Harvard India Conference this year, she said, “Anant is my youngest child, and he’s very, very religious and deeply rooted in spirituality. He has fought obesity throughout his life and yet been so positive… You just have to see [him and Radhika] together; they are magic.”

How can parental support shape a child’s emotional response to chronic illness or physical limitations?

Jai Arora, counselling psychologist and co-founder of Kirana Counselling, notes, “Parental support is foundational in shaping a child’s emotional landscape, especially when dealing with chronic illness or physical limitations. In Anant Ambani’s case, his statement reflects a deep sense of emotional safety created by his parents. When parents actively convey love, normalcy, and belief in their child’s capabilities — regardless of medical conditions — they foster psychological resilience and a secure attachment style, which is the basis of self-esteem and how one looks at themselves.”

This kind of support helps reduce feelings of shame or inadequacy, he adds. It allows the child to develop a self-image not defined by illness, but by their intrinsic worth.

Role of spirituality and belief systems in helping someone build a resilient mindset 

Spirituality and belief systems offer a framework to make meaning of suffering, Arora notes,  which can be incredibly grounding in the face of long-term health issues. Whether through prayer, meditation, or a belief in a higher purpose, spirituality can help individuals reframe their struggles not as punishments, but as part of a larger journey and flow of life.

How can individuals psychologically protect themselves from the emotional toll of public scrutiny or judgement?

Arora suggests that protecting oneself from public scrutiny and judgement comes natural to none. But it begins with developing a strong internal self-concept — one that isn’t overly dependent on external validation. “This scrutiny can often become triggers for individuals and hence learning to distinguish between their own narratives and the narratives projected onto them, is key,” says. 

“Developing self-worth based on values — like kindness, determination, or purpose — rather than appearance or public opinion, builds lasting resilience,” concludes Arora. 

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