Rahul Bose says his mother ‘slapped me every day for 5 years', forced him to play sports: ‘I was useless, it helped me'

Indian Express

4 days ago

Actor Rahul Bose, who has been part of the Hindi film industry for almost three decades and is known for his pathbreaking performances, recently opened up about growing up in a household where his parents defied traditional gender norms. He shared how this upbringing shaped his understanding of the world and made him more conscious and aware.
In a recent interaction with ANI, Rahul revealed that his parents were quite the opposite of what gender stereotypes typically dictate. While his father paid more attention to appearances and presentation, his mother was career-focused and took charge of things that are traditionally considered 'masculine.' Speaking about the same, he said, 'I was woke way before the word came up because my mother never cooked, my father cooked. My mother slapped me every day for 5 years. I was such a nikamma (useless) that it only helped me. And you can't say that these days but believe me I was such a nikamma those days that it only helped. She forced me to play Rugby and box.'
Talking about his father's reaction to his interest in more rugged sports, Rahul shared, 'I boxed in school and my father was appalled. He wanted me to wear a cap so that I wouldn't get too dark in the sun. He wanted me to play cricket and be a gentleman. He saw me playing rugby and never looked at the field when he would walk in.'
Explaining how his parents' roles shaped him into the person he is today, Rahul added, 'I am the product of a father who would ask what we should wear at a wedding and a mother who asked what should I do with my career. This is exactly opposite.'
Rahul is best known for his unconventional and nuanced performances in films such as Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, I Am, Bulbbul, Kaalpurush, and more. He was last seen in the film Berlin.