A very personal and emotional moment from Vicky Kaushal’s fatherhood journey as he said that his “heart sank” when he had to leave his newborn son Vihaan Kaushal for the first time to return to his work.
Uri and Dunki actress Katrina Kaif, who delivered her first child just earlier this year, took a six-week break from all professional commitments following Vihaan’s birth. The time off allowed him to bond with the newborn and be present for the early, fleeting days that every parent cherishes.
The Difficult Goodbye
But work finally came. Vicky had to travel 230 kilometers from home to Wai, Maharashtra, for a four-day shoot. For the first time, leaving his wife and newborn son behind was a very heavy moment for him.
"My heart sank," Vicky recalled, when he walked out the door. The short distance—a couple hours by road—seemed much larger emotionally. But every father knows that first separation, the actor said, but living through it is another thing entirely.
Embracing Fatherhood
Vihaan’s birth has made Vicky relatively private about his family life since then, so he’s kept his son away from the limelight from the media. But his recent comments reveal a rare glimpse of how fatherhood has changed him. The six-week break, he said, was non-negotiable—a conscious choice to put family ahead of movies, even if only for a short while.
Balancing Stardom and Parenthood
Vicky’s honesty has resonated with fans and other parents alike, many of whom have felt the same pressures of professional work and family life. For an actor who is also the highest-demand actor in the industry, six weeks off is a lot of work—and the schedules are already set months in advance.
The four-day shoot in Wai is complete and Vicky has returned home to his family. But the memory of that first goodbye—the 230 kilometers and the sinking heart—will probably stay with him for a long time.
As he juggles blockbuster commitments with bedtime stories, Vicky Kaushal is learning what millions of working parents already know: Success tastes sweeter when you return home to little arms waiting for you.
