Parineeti Chopra supported Raghav Chadha’s request for lawful paternity leave in Parliament. This sparked a broader discourse on shared parenting in India.
Actress Parineeti Chopra has openly supported her husband, Raghav Chadha, after he advocated for paternity leave to be recognised as a legal entitlement in India. Chopra, speaking from Parliament, welcomed Chadha’s attitude, calling it as both personal and vital for families facing early motherhood.
Chadha, an Aam Aadmi Party MP, addressed the matter during a parliamentary session, claiming that both parents should share caregiving obligations equally. His idea, which seeks legal support for paternity leave, has gained traction online, with Chopra boosting his message via social media.
What did Raghav Chadha say at Parliament?
Chadha emphasised that, while both parents are honoured during a child’s birth, the mother bears the majority of the caring responsibilities. He claimed that this imbalance requires legal intervention and that dads should be free to help their spouses after childbirth without jeopardising their jobs.
He also emphasised that the postnatal phase is critical for a mother’s recovery and well-being, making the presence of a spouse necessary. Chadha believes that establishing paternity leave as a legal entitlement will demonstrate shared responsibility in Indian households.
Why did Parineeti Chopra support the demand? Chopra’s solution stems from personal experience. The couple welcomed their first kid, a son called Neer, in October of last year. In her piece, she portrayed Chadha as a hands-on father whose activism resonates with many moms who frequently feel unsupported in the early stages of parenthood.
Her vocal endorsement gave a human dimension to the policy debate, focusing on the lived experiences of new parents.
Chadha’s call contributes to a broader discussion in India over parental rights and employment laws. While maternity leave is required by law, there is no comprehensive legislation that grants paternity leave as a legal right across industries.
The idea seeks to promote more egalitarian caregiving practices and put Indian legislation in line with global norms, which increasingly accept shared parental duties.
Chopra and Chadha, who married in Udaipur in 2023, have periodically offered glimpses of their lives as new parents, providing context for their public statements on family and work-life balance.