Meghna Gulzar on Gulzar, Rakhee as parents: 'Got thappad from mom'
Synopsis
Meghna Gulzar's candid revelation — that her iconic father Gulzar pampered her while her mother Rakhee handed out the occasional 'thappad' — strips away the mythology around one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated families. Shared during promotions of her star-studded film 'Daayra', the anecdote is a rare, humanising glimpse into a household where artistic legend coexisted with everyday parenting.
Key Takeaways
Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar described her upbringing with parents Gulzar and Rakhee Gulzar as 'very normal' during 'Daayra' promotions in Mumbai on 20 September 2026 .
She said her mother scolded and even gave her a 'thappad' , while her father pampered her — dynamics she likened to any ordinary Indian family.
Meghna said she does not feel a sense of awe toward her parents despite being aware of their immense public impact. 'Daayra' stars Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kareena Kapoor Khan and is Meghna's follow-up to her acclaimed films 'Raazi' and 'Talvar' .
Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has revealed that growing up with two of Hindi cinema's most celebrated figures — veteran lyricist Gulzar and actress Rakhee Gulzar — was, by her own account, refreshingly ordinary. Speaking during promotions of her upcoming film 'Daayra', starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kareena Kapoor Khan, in the Andheri West area of Mumbai on 20 September 2026, the director offered a candid peek behind the curtain of one of Bollywood's most iconic families.
A Grounded Household Behind the Glamour
Meghna described her parents as anything but larger-than-life at home. 'Both my parents have been huge stars in their own right and are immensely famous personalities. But at home, they have always been very grounded, and very normal. I have had a very normal upbringing,' she said.
Far from being shielded from everyday discipline, Meghna recalled the classic dynamics of an Indian household. 'My mother has scolded me like any normal mother does to her child. I have also got thappad from her. My father has pampered me and come in the way of my mother disciplining me like all mothers and fathers do,' she added with evident warmth.
Public Persona vs Private Reality
Meghna acknowledged the deep reverence people hold for her parents, even as she admitted to never quite experiencing that awe herself. 'Every time somebody comes and tells me, "I would do anything to just touch your father's feet, or I happened to meet your father and it was the best moment in my life" — I'm not surprised because I'm aware of the effect my parents have on people. And I'm grateful for it. I respect that tremendously,' she said.
'But do I get that sense of awe with them? No, because for me, they are my mother and my father,' she added. It is a sentiment that speaks to the often-unseen human dimension of celebrity families — where public iconography rarely penetrates the dinner table.
About 'Daayra' and What's Next
Meghna made these remarks in the context of promoting 'Daayra', her forthcoming directorial venture that brings together Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kareena Kapoor Khan — a pairing that has generated considerable buzz. The film marks another ambitious chapter for a filmmaker who has built a distinct identity despite — or perhaps because of — her illustrious lineage.
Meghna Gulzar is best known for directing critically acclaimed films such as 'Raazi' (2018) and 'Talvar' (2015), both of which underscored her preference for layered, research-driven narratives. With 'Daayra', audiences will watch closely to see whether she extends that trajectory into new creative territory.
Point of View
Critically respected filmography on her own terms. Her candour about household discipline is a deliberate humanising move during a film promotion cycle, but it also underlines something mainstream coverage often misses: that 'film families' are, at their core, just families. Whether 'Daayra' can extend her run of awards-circuit favourites will be the more consequential test of that independence.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Meghna Gulzar say about her childhood with parents Gulzar and Rakhee?
Meghna Gulzar said she had a 'very normal' upbringing despite her parents being celebrated icons. She recalled her mother Rakhee scolding her and giving her a 'thappad', while her father Gulzar would pamper her and often intervene in the disciplining — much like any ordinary Indian household.
What is Meghna Gulzar's upcoming film 'Daayra' about?
'Daayra' is Meghna Gulzar's forthcoming directorial project, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Further plot details have not been officially disclosed, but the casting has generated significant anticipation ahead of the film's release.
Does Meghna Gulzar feel in awe of her famous parents?
No. Meghna said that while she is fully aware of the effect her parents have on people and respects that deeply, she does not personally experience a sense of awe toward them — because to her, they are simply her mother and father.
What are Meghna Gulzar's most notable films as a director?
Meghna Gulzar is best known for 'Raazi' (2018), starring Alia Bhatt, and 'Talvar' (2015), starring Irrfan Khan — both critically acclaimed, research-driven films. 'Daayra' is her next directorial venture.
Who are Meghna Gulzar's parents?
Meghna Gulzar's parents are veteran lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar and actress Rakhee Gulzar, both considered legends of Indian cinema with decades of celebrated work across films and music.
