Imran Khan has opened up about a painful aspect of being a single parent, saying he often struggles to arrange playdates for his daughter Imara, as some parents hesitate to send their children to a single-man home. The actress said she understands why some mothers feel wary, but the repeated nos have been difficult as she has had to tell her daughter week after week that her friends can’t come.
Imran Khan talks about the challenges of being a single parent
Speaking to Parineeti Chopra on her show Mom Talks, Imran said that her daughter stays with her for part of the week and it is difficult to arrange play dates when she is at her house.He recalled, “I’d try to make plans. And Imara would ask me, ‘Can she ask this friend if they can come play?’ Next week they say: “Hello, can we do it?”, “No, not today”.Imran said he slowly realized that some parents were not happy about sending their children, especially daughters, to a single father’s home. He said: “I am a man and I am a father, but now that I am divorced, there is no woman at home.”
Imran Khan says it was a harrowing situation
The actor said the refusals continued even after several attempts. “So I’d try to make a plan, and they’d say, ‘Sorry, not today,’ ‘Sorry, busy,’ ‘Sorry, tennis class today,’ ‘Sorry, teaching today.”Imran said he did not dismiss the concern behind this doubt. “So look, we also live in a world where there are enough problematic men. You can understand where this thinking comes from. It was heartbreaking because week after week I had to say to my daughter, ‘I’m sorry, your friend can’t come.’Parineeti replied that a single mother would probably get more empathy. “If the same thing was a single female parent, I don’t mean a single mother, just a single parent, I don’t think they would have this problem,” she said.Imran also spoke about the lack of emotional support as a single father. He said male friendships often carry ideas like “yaar, bro, be a man, don’t be weak,” which can leave vulnerable feelings unresolved.In an earlier interview with this publication, Imran said that he and his ex-wife, Avantika Malik, share custody. “From Thursday to Sunday, he is with me. I put him to bed, I read to him at night, I get up in the morning, he dabba, he takes him to school and I pick him up from school. This is the most valuable to me,” he said.Imran married Avantika in 2011. They welcomed Imara in June 2014 and later separated after eight years of marriage. In 2024, he confirmed his relationship with actress Lekha Washington.Note: This article reports personal thoughts on single parenting, family structures, and societal perceptions. It is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute psychological, relationship or family counseling.
