#KetchupCut: Raat Jawaan Hai sensitively highlights parental separation anxiety even in fathers!

In a vulnerable scene in Raat Jawaan Hai, Avinash, a stay-at-home dad gives voice to the kind of feelings fathers rarely get associated with.

You’ve probably heard of the term separation anxiety now on the internet. It usually refers to the fear or worry that parents, especially mothers, feel when they have to get back to work after maternity leave. It’s that constant guilt over being away and the fear that something might go wrong. Remember in F.R.I.E.N.D.S, when Rachel was terrified to leave Emma for the first time for Phoebe's birthday and Ross joked about absurd things that could happen? That perfectly captured what new moms feel! Separation anxiety isn’t always easy to define. Sometimes it can be so overwhelming that it brings on physical symptoms, even panic attacks. Why we only associate it with mothers has a lot to do with "mard ko dard nahi hota" and "women are overtly emotional". That’s probably why it hit me so hard when I saw Avinash, effortlessly played by Barun Sobti, visibly unsettled by the idea that his child might forget him when he returns to work.

Directed by Sumeet Vyas, Raat Jawaan Hai, streaming on SonyLIV, is what I’d call a criminally underrated show. It brings a refreshing take on modern-day parenting. In a world where most stories end at the Dil Chahta Hai phase, this one very subtly asks you what happens to friendships and life after you’ve grown up, gotten married, and had kids. The story follows three childhood friends, Suman (Priya Bapat), Radhika (Anjali Anand), and Avinash, who lean on each other while navigating the chaotic and beautiful mess of modern age parenting. They want to keep watching Marvel films, maintain a work-life balance and raise their kids with love and intention. And Radhika's storyline shows us what it’s like for a new mother to return to work. Instead of going back to a demanding job, she starts something small that she enjoys, something that lets her stay close to her child. The world sees this as acceptable, even expected, from a mother. But for Avinash, it’s a very different story.

Also Read: Raat Jawaan Hai: A slice of life, buddy-comedy take on modern day parenting

Avinash is a stay-at-home dad by choice. His wife works while he takes care of their baby, Rahi, feeding, bathing, putting him to sleep. But soon, he’s reminded that the world still doesn’t fully accept this kind of role for a man. He’s constantly made to feel like he's missing something, that he’s not doing enough. So when while juggling his own male ego he decides to return to work, he realises that his only real option is to dive back into the corporate world, which would mean long hours and being away from home. And that's when Avinash breaks down in front of his few-months-old child. Tears running down his face, he begs his baby not to forget him. He tries to explain to the baby that even if he’s not around all the time, he’s still there. 

Whether it was Sobti who brought something personal from his own experience as a father or the feeling itself was just so raw and new - that moment left me numb. It made me realise that fathers may not carry a child but perhaps it’s that absence, that biological distance that makes them fear disconnection even more. Rarely are fathers giventhe emotional space we so naturally offer to mothers. They’re often the invisible parent. This scene, where a young father is so deeply attached to his child that he experiences separation anxiety, feels like a rare and honest portrayal of parenthood. It shows us that fear, guilt, and overwhelming love aren’t emotions reserved for women alone. Men feel them too but they don't know how to put words to their feelings because most of them are still taught to bury it all.

What did you think of this scene of the show? Let us know in the comments below.

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