Sadhguru’s Advice To Alia Bhatt Sparks A Much-Needed Parenting Reality Check: ‘A Worried Parent Is Not A Good Parent…’

With the world obsessing over childhood trauma, parenting styles and ways how to be perfect parent, a recent interaction between actress Alia Bhatt and Sadhguru has struck a chord with mothers and fathers alike. What began as a discussion about clocking the right amount of sleep turned into a reality check on modern parenthood — one that many parents needed to hear.

During the interaction, Alia, who has often spoken about her desire to be a balanced mother to her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Raha, shared that she makes it a point to sleep 8 to 9 hours every night. “All we are told is sleep, rest, it’s when your body repairs itself,” she said softly. Sadhguru listened attentively before responding with simplicity, “That’s a fourth of your day.

When will you live?”

The exchange, filmed for Sadhguru’s YouTube channel, began on a light note—hovering between humour and reflection—but soon shifted into something more layered. It turned towards a reality many parents quietly navigate today: anxiety, the need for control, and the constant, often unspoken pressure to get everything right.

“I am a mother to a three-and-a-half-year-old, and she is the joy of my life. But I am worried all the time,” Alia shared. “My father once asked me what it feels like to be a mother, and I said it’s a mix of joy and worry. I keep wondering, am I a good mother? Am I saying the right things?”

Seeking clarity, she then asked Sadhguru, “What is the one piece of advice you would give to a parent who is constantly worried about whether they are doing a good job?”

It is a question that feels particularly relevant today. In a time shaped by curated parenting on social media, milestone comparisons, and the quiet expectation of balancing everything, worry has almost become part of the role itself.

Sadhguru’s response, however, cut through that noise. He cautioned that constant anxiety does little to support a child’s growth. “A worried parent is not a good parent,” he said, adding that excessive worry often ends up affecting the parent more than helping the child.

Alia went on to say, “I don’t think you can take worry out of it. I think you would admit.”

Sharing his perspective, Sadhguru said, “When you have a child, the first thing is to drop the idea that you have to teach them something.” As the conversation turned to Raha, he asked, “Between you and your three-and-a-half-year-old-what’s her name?”

“Raha,” Alia replied. “Between you and her, who is more joyful?” he asked. “She,” Alia responded.

“Then who should be a consultant for life?” he continued. “She,” Alia smiled, as Sadhguru concluded, “What is there for you to teach?” he asked, jokingly.

“You must let them. You must watch,” he said, adding, “A child is much closer to life than you are.”

This idea challenges the deeply ingrained notion of parenting as a project. Today’s parents, particularly in urban settings, often operate with a sense of urgency—optimising routines, tracking development, anticipating outcomes. Yet, in doing so, there is a risk of overlooking what children already embody: a way of being that is instinctive rather than learned.