Remember the look our fathers gave us when we were out of line? That single look spoke a thousand words—no explanation needed. Happy Father’s Day to the dads who still think ‘the look’ works, and to the ones whose kids just roll their eyes when they try it.
Fatherhood today looks vastly different from what many of us grew up with. The days of the formal, distant father figure—whose authority was communicated from across the dinner table—have largely given way to something much more hands-on, open, and grounded in friendship.
In a recent Father’s Day conversation, three dads spanning three generations chatted with me about this shift. Representing the full arc of parenting were Anindya, deep in the trenches with two daughters aged six and eight; Kunal Sharma, a single dad navigating life with two tween boys; and Mouli Ganguly, a film director, father of two grown sons, and granddad to five.
All three agreed on one thing: parenting comes without a manual, and the playbook changes daily.
For Anindya, raising young daughters means constantly adapting. “One day parenting is about nappies and feeding, and another day it’s about preventing chaos. Before long, it turns into strategising over school lunchboxes,” he says, capturing the reality that no parent ever fully “figures it out.”
Kunal Sharma echoed that sentiment from the single-dad perspective. Balancing a busy career while raising 11 and 12-year-old boys, he sees parenting as a daily series of diplomatic negotiations over routines like bedtime and sunscreen. For him, moving away from old-school hierarchy is key. “Modern parenting works best when fathers become friends to their children rather than relying only on authority,” he says, observing that building trust early ensures kids feel comfortable opening up as they grow.
Mouli Ganguly brought the depth of perspective that only time offers. Reflecting on being a more distant father in his earlier years—crediting his wife with carrying much of the practical load—Mouli now finds joy in stepping back into the role of a wise witness to family life. Watching his grown sons parent as companions rather than commanders has been a moving evolution. He sees how traits shift across generations—his own father was strictly systematic and disciplined, yet his sons have each carved out a softer path.
The dads also shared the core values they hope to pass down—from learning perspective in a world of abundance, to drawing inspiration from a father who went to law school at 70, to simply showing up with kindness. As Mouli put it, the ultimate goal isn’t material success or raising exact copies of us but guiding children to become good human beings who show up for others.
Modern fatherhood may mean less total control and a lot more everyday compromise, but as these dads proved, stepping actively into the emotional lives of our kids is the best upgrade of all.
When asked what they would do with two hours of total, uninterrupted freedom—no phones, no chores, and no demands—their answers captured each stage of life perfectly. Anindya dreamed of a quiet coffee and a peaceful walk. Kunal confessed that total disconnection is hard with a busy schedule, though escaping somewhere without a phone signal sounds ideal. Mouli offered the most graceful reflection of all: simply sitting quietly to reflect on what has been a wonderful life.
What would you do with two hours of uninterrupted freedom this Father’s Day?
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