EXCLUSIVE! Nandita Puri opens up on raising her child solo while late actor Om Puri would be away on shoot

Nandita Puri with son Ishaan

Late actor Om Puri married journalist Nandita Puri in 1993, and the couple had a son named Ishaan. In 2013, however, they decided to part ways and opted for a judicial separation. Om Puri passed away in January 2017 after suffering a heart attack. In a candid chat with mid-day.com, Nandita Puri speaks about son Ishaan, and how she raised her child solo while Om Puri would be away on shoots.

Nandita recalls, "In my case, it was more that my husband (late actor Om Puri) was away most (of the) year on shoots abroad, mainly UK. So the onus of education and attending PTA meets fell on me. But whenever he was in town, he made sure to attend. Luckily for me, we had good staff support at home, so I had lots of me time. Can't complain much though, as my son was rather well behaved... so 'will tell dad when he returns' wasn't needed much."

When it comes to parenting, Nandita believes in conscious but gentle ways to raise one's children. She says, "Today, (there are) enough gadgets, apps and other means to keep track. Trust your child with his friends, but do scrutinise the friends and their backgrounds gently. But most important are family values which will stand them in good stead to choose the right friends."

Speaking about son Ishaan's plans for the future, Nandita tells us, "He has just graduated from LSE (London School of Economics) and is a world topper in Development Management 2020-2021. He has appeared on stage in Raell Padamsee's 'Mahatma', done a short course under David Lee Strasberg, and has been mentored by his father He wants to pursue acting and filmmaking now apart from looking after the Om Puri Foundation."

Also read: Om Puri shot his last film despite typhoid, recalls wife Nandita