Imran Khan on love, fatherhood and personal growth

Sharing how love functions in his daily life, Imran said, “To be loved by someone truly gives you strength and heals you. To give love truthfully and selflessly to another also is empowering and healing. And I have found this, in between my daughter and my partner Lekha, to give and to receive love. It has been absolutely crucial to my healing and to my own growth and well-being.” 

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. 

Imran also spoke at length about fatherhood and the importance of presence, especially in a child’s early years. Emphasising consistency over perfection, he explained, “I believe being present seeps into children’s subconsciousness, even at an age when they are eight months, one and a half years, all of this, all the way through. I believe it seeps into their subconscious, the sense that a parent was there, that physically one was there, and one did the thing.” 

Describing everyday routines like putting his daughter to bed, feeding her, and picking her up from school, he added that these acts give him “great joy and a sense of purpose and value,” and feel like “the best use of my time.” 

 

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How receiving and giving love contributes to emotional healing

Sneha Vashisht, senior psychotherapist and founder at Happidition, New Delhi, tells indianexpress.com, “After separation, love does not erase the pain, but it gives you stability. Being loved reminds you that you are still worthy, even when life feels uncertain.”

Neha Cadabam, senior psychologist & executive director at Cadabam’s Hospitals, adds, “Giving and receiving love helps restore emotional continuity. It reassures the nervous system that connection is still possible and meaningful. When individuals feel seen, supported, and emotionally held, it reduces feelings of abandonment and allows healing to happen in a more integrated way rather than through emotional suppression.”

Why physical and emotional presence are so impactful for children’s subconscious development

In early childhood, Cadabam notes that the brain develops primarily through sensory and emotional experiences rather than language or logic. A caregiver’s physical and emotional presence signals safety, consistency, and emotional attunement to a child’s subconscious.

“This forms the foundation for secure attachment. When children experience dependable presence, their nervous system learns regulation, trust, and emotional resilience. These early experiences shape how they relate to themselves and others later in life, often without conscious awareness,” says Cadabam.

Balancing personal growth, romantic relationships, and parenting responsibilities

Balance comes from intention, Vashisht states, not perfection. “It helps to accept that different phases need different priorities. Some days, parenting will come first, on others, personal growth or a relationship may need more space.”

Guilt reduces when adults stop measuring themselves against unrealistic expectations and start listening to what is truly needed in the moment. Clear boundaries, open communication, and allowing oneself to be human make it possible for growth, love, and parenting to support each other rather than compete.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.