Mumbai (Commonwealth Union)_ Actor Asin Thottumkal and her husband, Rahul Sharma, are following a different approach to parenting in an age when children are increasingly exposed to mobile phones, television and other digital devices. As their daughter, Arin Rayn, turned nine this month, the couple’s approach to raising her has drawn attention, particularly after Rahul revealed that she has had no screen time so far. Arin celebrated her birthday in Japan, where she had the opportunity to explore the country’s traditions and culture. Asin shared glimpses of the celebration on her Instagram Stories, showing her daughter dressed in a traditional kimono, learning about Japanese customs and trying ninja activities. She was also photographed alongside sumo wrestlers, making the occasion an opportunity for cultural learning as well as celebration.
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Asin, who turned 41 this month, was once a leading face in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema. She made her Bollywood debut opposite Aamir Khan in Ghajini in 2008. However, she stepped away from acting after marrying Rahul, co-founder of Micromax, in 2016. The couple welcomed Arin in October 2017. Rahul spoke about his wife’s influence on the family’s life and parenting decisions during a recent interview. He said that Asin is his biggest support, the one who supports him in difficult times and understands his aspirations. He also praised her role in managing responsibilities at home while he focuses on his professional commitments.
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One of Rahul’s most striking revelations concerned Arin’s language skills. He said that even at a young age, she could understand and speak around 12 languages, including Korean, Japanese, Thai and Chinese. He contrasted her abilities with his own, admitting that he finds it difficult to speak more than two languages fluently. Rahul also explained that the couple have chosen not to introduce Arin to television or mobile phones. Instead, books play a central role in their household. According to him, their home library includes books well beyond their daughter’s current school level. Although Arin was in Class 2 when he spoke about their routine, the family had already collected books for Classes 8 and 9.
Their approach offers another perspective on teaching children in the digital era. The couple are more interested in reading, learning and real life experiences than screen entertainment. Asin’s parenting choices deliver a simple message to families: limiting screen time and encouraging curiosity are the keys to helping children explore the world beyond digital devices. Each family is unique, but Arin’s childhood serves as a powerful example of how parents can fill childhood with learning and cultural experiences.
