A child gives birth to a father as well, Shah Rukh Khan

He plays a perfect lover onscreen and off screen, he is the best dad. Father’s Day is not a special occasion for Shah Rukh Khan, who keeps obsessing over his kids all year. Describing a father’s role, the Bollywood superstar says dads are usually seen as rule-breakers and risk-takers with their kids.

“Someone rightly said, ‘Any man can be a father but it takes time to be a dad’. And that someone was just right,” said Shah Rukh who has two children - son Aryan and daughter Suhana.

“Who is dad? He’s the mess-maker, rule-breaker, risk-taker and the opposite of mom who is usually seen as the creator and nurturer. But for all their mischief, dads are doing something quite right,” the actor said in a statement on the occasion of Father’s Day.

Known as Bollywood’s favourite romantic hero, Shah Rukh donned the role of a modern, loving dad in movies like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham.

“Father’s Day is our day, to celebrate ‘being dad’. This day gives us the opportunity to show and express our love and care. It is an appropriate platform to look at our children and credit them for bringing joy and happiness. After all, a child gives birth to a father as well. But even though it is celebrated once a year, it is the ever-after effect of being a father that will keep us connected.

“A father’s role means differently to different people so I cannot do justice by trying to define it. But in the traditional way, we hold the role of being the head of the family, protector and role models to our children. We are definitely the more unpredictable lot with our kids.

“At times we may have rocked our kids more than their moms have and rolled on the floor foolishly to play. So moms and dads are indeed different. And we know we cannot be like the mothers, but we do know that we can make all the difference by being right there.

“I understand it is not easy, but I appreciate the effort that is being put in by all fathers, as more and more fathers are becoming aware and taking their role and responsibility seriously and turning into great dads.”

Apart from movies, Shah Rukh is seen playing a doting father to child artist Keval in the recent Pepsodent ad “Pappu and Pappa”.

“I am happy to know that most of you have joined me in the “Pappu and Pappa” campaign and have made a move towards being the family man and taken to spending quality time with your kids.

“For this moment, I dedicate a song for our special day... Will Smith’s “Just the Two of Us” which celebrates fatherhood. And dear dads, you can do more. Wish you a Happy Fathers Day.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2010.