Imran Khan opens up about telling his daughter Imara about his relationship with Lekha Washington: ‘Trying to hide anything from a child is not healthy’ |

actor Imran Khan He might have been away from movies for a while, but fans are hoping to see him back on screen. He has also continued to keep people updated on his life through social media and has been inspired as a single parent as well. Imran i Avantika Malik split in 2024 and they have co-parented their daughter ever since. In an earlier interview with ETimes, Imran had spoken about his bond with his daughter Imara and called her his “beacon” amidst all the personal struggle that happened during the divorce. The actor has been dating Lekha Washington for a while and in a recent interview he talked about how he introduced his daughter to his girlfriend. Imran revealed that since Lekha had been a part of their lives even before they started dating, the transition was easier, but he still felt it was important to be honest with Imara about the change in their relationship. He said in an interview with Hindustan Times, “Lekha and I knew each other before we started dating and so Imara knew her too. It’s just the context of the relationship that changed and I wanted her to know when it happened. It’s part of being transparent. Trying to hide anything from a kid is not healthy. That’s not how you build a healthy relationship.”For the actor, honesty and example are central to parenting. Instead of teaching children how to behave, he believes parents should model the values ​​they hope to instill. “Kids do what you do, not what you say. So I want to live my life in a way that sets a healthy example. It’s important to talk to children as if they were rational, thinking beings and not treat them like minors.”As Imara has grown, Imran says their relationship has evolved naturally. With a laugh, he admitted that he’s no longer the “cool” dad around his friends. “We’ve reached a stage where I’m not cool in front of his friends – I still shout ‘I love you’ but I’m not cool enough to hang out with his friends,” she laughs.Fatherhood has also reshaped the way Imran looks at films and narratives. Watching children’s content alongside her daughter has made her more aware of how women are portrayed on screen. “I’ve started to see the world through her lens. When I watch cartoons or movies with her, I realize that I don’t like how female characters are portrayed. The misogyny is reinforced. It pushed me to start looking for positive female representation in my movies as well,” she admits.The 43-year-old also shared that he intentionally kept Imara out of the limelight for much of her childhood. It wasn’t until he started noticing strangers approaching him that he explained why people recognized him. “I kept her away for the most part. People were reacting to me and at some point, she asked me, ‘Why do people keep taking pictures with you?’ Then I had to explain to him that I acted in some movies and people remember me from there. I haven’t shown her any of my films, to her they are still outsiders who come up to me and say hello.”Technology is another area where Imran believes moderation is essential. She said she has introduced clear boundaries around digital devices for her daughter. “I’m pretty conservative about technology adoption. Not just kids, but everyone is online too much these days. So I’ve put technology adoption guidelines for Imara.”Away from the public eye, the father-daughter duo enjoy simple moments together, from skating to hair care. Imran admitted that learning to manage his daughter’s long hair has been an experience in itself.“I don’t have as much hair as her,” laughs the actor, adding, “Learning how to wash, condition and dry my hair is something I had to learn by doing. I started out doing ugly braids that were embarrassing. But I’m better now. It’s been quite a journey.”