Badminton legend and Padma Shri awardee Prakash Padukone is enjoying a slower and more fulfilling phase of life. More than three decades after Prakash Padukone stepped away from active participation in the Badminton Academy, the former England champion describes himself as “sort of semi-retired” with more time for family, fitness and his granddaughter Dua.Padukone, who recently turned 70, says retirement is not about doing nothing but finding a balance between work and personal life. While he continues to be associated with badminton through new initiatives, family has become an even bigger priority.
“I never expected such a feeling”
In the middle of this family life is the granddaughter Dua, the daughter of an actor couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. Padukone admits that being a grandfather has been an emotional and rewarding experience.“I think it’s amazing. Being a grandparent is completely different. I never expected such a feeling. We used to wonder why grandparents mess with their grandchildren so much,” she laughed while talking to The Indian Express.“I totally get it now.”The badminton icon also praised Deepika and Ranveer for the way they are raising their daughter.“Of course, Deepika does a lot more, but Ranveer helps out a lot when he’s not at work. Both families are also present to help,” he shared.
Watching Dua grow up helps her relive the lost moments
Padukone candidly admitted that professional commitments during her playing years often kept her away from home, preventing her from being as involved in the day-to-day upbringing of her daughters Deepika and Anisha as she would have liked.“As a parent, I don’t remember raising our children or being involved as much because I was almost at home. I remember the important things, but the day-to-day details were lost. Now I notice every little change. There’s something new almost every day,” he said.Today, watching Dua grow up and discover the world has become one of the highlights of her life.
Metro rides, auto-rickshaws and outings to the park
Whenever Dua visits Bengaluru, Padukone and his wife Ujjala try to enjoy experiences that many celebrity children will not get due to the constant public attention.“Keeping his privacy in mind, we have taken him on a Metro train. Last time, we went to Cubbon Park, we took Putani Express, and also in a car,” explained Padukone.He also talked about Dua’s outgoing personality and growing interest.“He really likes padel. There is a nice padel court very close to our house. We live near the Camp station, so he likes to watch the trains. He is a very friendly child, so he likes to mix with people. He says hello to almost everyone.”Padukone says that traveling from an early age has also played a role in building her confidence and curiosity.“He’s been traveling since he was very young. That’s really helped. He’s growing up quite quickly and at a very interesting stage,” he added.Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are gearing up to welcome their second child. The couple announced their pregnancy in April this year through a joint social media post featuring their daughter Dua. The second child will arrive in September 2024 less than two years after the first child was welcomed.
