Dhupia explained that her daughter now uses the word herself when she does not want something.
28 Jul 2026 | 16:22 Neha Dhupia with her daughter. Because it is a way of showing consent, right, “Today she applies it, ‘No, bas, I don’t want it,’.
For many parents, a child’s first words are usually words like “mumma”, “papa”, “paani” or the name of a favourite food. It was “bas”, or enough. Speaking about what she teaches her daughter, Dhupia said, “So, literally the first word I taught my daughter was bas, ki khaana nahi khaana, bas bol do. “You should know where your boundaries lie,” she said. No, bas, I don’t want it.”“You’re not someone’s toy and it needs to be told immediately,” she said. “Even if I wasn’t on an adventure-based reality show, I would give my child this upbringing to stand up on their feet, to have a voice, to be able to use it,” she said. Teaching a child to say “no” does not mean encouraging them to reject every instruction or behave rudely with adults.
For actor Neha Dhupia , one of the earliest words she wanted her daughter to understand was something very different. Dhupia recently spoke about parenting and consent in an interview with Bollywood Bubble, explaining why she wants her daughter to know that she has the right to say no, set boundaries and use her voice from an early age. For her, the word is not simply about refusing food. It is about helping a child understand where their boundaries lie. Dhupia explained that her daughter now uses the word herself when she does not want something. It is so important, you know where your boundaries lie. “Yeh nahi koi muh mein khaana dali jaa raha hai (It’s not like someone is putting food in your mouth), or somebody is pulling your cheeks. For her, this is a basic part of parenting rather than something dependent on her own public image. “Make sure you understand my consent is bas, no means no. An old picture of Neha Dhupia with her family. It means helping them understand that their body and personal space belong to them.
Because she is the child of a strong woman or a celebrity, dhupia also made it clear that she does not want her daughter to be encouraged to be outspoken simply. Because she has a strong mother), “And I’m not coming from a place ki woh haan, iski maa, like a lot of times haan, yeh toh aise hi niklegi, yeh toh tagdi niklegi (Oh, she will turn out like this. Because the person is older or a family member, this can be particularly useful in families where children are often expected to hug relatives, accept kisses or tolerate cheek-pulling simply.
A child can be taught to greet relatives, share toys and listen to parents while still being allowed to say, “I don’t want a hug,” “Please don’t touch my hair” or “Stop. One practical way to build this habit is to stop treating every “no” as something that needs to be immediately defeated. If a child says they do not want a hug, parents can say, “Okay, you can wave instead. If they are full and don’t want another bite of food, parents can ask, “Are you sure you’re done?” rather than forcing them to finish. They cannot hurt someone, take another child’s belongings or ignore an important safety instruction simply by saying “no”.
The actor also pointed to everyday situations where children are often expected to quietly accept things adults consider harmless. No, I don’t need that. Parents can change that conversation without making the child fearful of others. If they don’t want someone to kiss them, they can be allowed to say hello without physical contact. But boundaries should work both ways. Parents can also teach children that saying no comes with responsibility. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day.