Soha Ali Khan has opened up about a cherished piece of her childhood — a stuffed toy dog named Elliot — and how she has now passed it on to her daughter, Inaaya Naumi Kemmu, hoping to spark the same spark of imagination that defined her own growing-up years. The actress shared the nostalgic memory in a video that has resonated widely with parents and fans alike.

The Toy That Travelled the World

In the video, Soha recalled long summer afternoons spent with her siblings — actor Saif Ali Khan and artist Saba Ali Khan — weaving elaborate stories around Elliot. 'One of my most favourite summer vacation memories is just sitting with Bhai, with my sister Apa and making up stories around Elliot. One of us would start the story, another would continue it, and third would add a twist; and by the end of the afternoon, Elliot had travelled the world, solved mysteries, and made the most unlikely friends,' she said.

Each sibling played a distinct role in the storytelling ritual. Saif would 'hide clues around the house,' Saba 'would draw up a treasure map,' and Soha, as she recalled, 'would lead the investigation through Elliot.' 'I remember entire afternoons just disappearing as we solved mysteries that basically existed only in our imaginations,' she added.

The Deeper Meaning Behind the Memory

'It was never really about the toy itself. It was about everything our imagination allowed it to become,' Soha reflected. The sentiment captures something many parents grapple with in an era dominated by digital devices — the irreplaceable value of unstructured, imaginative play. Notably, this kind of sibling-led storytelling is increasingly rare in households where screens compete for children's attention from infancy.

Inaaya Carries the Torch

When Inaaya was born, Soha made a deliberate choice. 'I really wanted her to experience that same joy of creating her own little world, so starting with Elliot; I gave Elliot to her and now her favourite toy is stuffed animals. One day she is reading to them, she's cooking for them, she's teaching them lessons,' the actress shared. Watching her daughter's imagination take over is, in Soha's words, 'honestly one of my favourite things.'

The Toy Story 5 Connection

Soha's video was shared in the context of Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5, releasing in cinemas across India on 19 June. In her caption, she wrote that 'a toy is never just a toy' — calling it 'an adventure waiting to happen, a window to imagination, create, and the beginning of some of our most cherished childhood memories.' She noted that the new film 'asks a very important question for today's children and parents: how do we continue to nurture imagination in a world increasingly shaped by screens?' Soha added that she watched the first Toy Story with her family, and that the franchise has been 'a big part of my childhood and growing up years.'

With Toy Story 5 arriving in Indian theatres this week, Soha's reflection serves as a timely reminder that the objects children love most are rarely about the object itself.