Vicky Kaushal says his heart sank when he returned to work after son Vihaan's birth, appreciates his parents more after becoming a father

Since welcoming his first child with Katrina Kaif last year, Vicky Kaushal has been discovering a whole new side of life. The actor, who became a father to baby boy Vihaan Kaushal on November 7, 2025, recently spoke about the lessons parenthood has taught him and how it has changed the way he looks at his own upbringing.Vicky reflected on the values his parents instilled in him and admitted that becoming a father has given him a deeper appreciation for their efforts.“When I look at my upbringing in retrospect," Vicky said in an interview with The Nod Mag, , “I understand so many things that they were right about. We weren’t financially flying. So, there was that pressure. But they had the responsibility of instilling the right values in me." The actor revealed that raising his son has made him realize the importance of leading by example rather than simply giving advice. “It occurs to me at the most random moments that that [instilling the right values] is now my responsibility towards my son," he added, “He is going to learn by observing how his parents are thinking, talking, and behaving. So, I’ve realised whatever you want to see reflected in him has to come in your actions rather than words."Vicky also opened up about the emotional challenges that come with being a new parent. After taking a six-week break from work following Vihaan’s birth, the actor had to leave home for a four-day shoot nearly 230 kilometres away. The separation, he admitted, was far more difficult than he had anticipated. “My heart sank. It was hard," he said. The experience helped him understand the emotions that parents often talk about as their children grow up.“There are so many new feelings that surface almost on a daily basis, because being a parent is new to me. I understand now when others would say ‘Yaar, bacha kitna jaldi bada ho raha hai’. And I would think, ‘What are you talking about? Your child is still a year old.’ Now I get it," the actor mentioned.On the professional front, Vicky was last seen in Laxman Utekar's *Chhaava*, alongside Rashmika Mandanna. He is currently busy filming Sanjay Leela Bhansali's *Love and War*, which also stars Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor and marks his reunion with both actors on screen.