Abhishek Bachchan may prefer the classics of Hindi film music, but his daughter Aaradhya Bachchan is introducing him to a very different playlist. From Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift to Ariana Grande, the 14-year-old has her own favourites. During a family trip abroad over the summer break, she even took her parents to an Ariana Grande concert, an experience that left Abhishek impressed, despite not knowing a single song. In a recent interview with BBC Asian Network, Abhishek spoke about his love for older Hindi film songs and how living with a teenager has brought a new range of music into his life. His account offered a glimpse of how parents and children can have different tastes while still finding things to enjoy together.
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Asked what music he was listening to, Abhishek said Kishore Kumar remained a personal favourite. “Obviously, as I told you, Kishore Da is a personal favourite, and anything he does is just fantastic. I love listening to Hindi film music, especially the older songs. RD Burman, SD Burman, Kalyanji-Anandji, Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Bappi Lahiri, they’re all brilliant,” he said. But his playlist at home is not limited to the music he grew up listening to.“I enjoy that, but I have a 14-year-old at home, so there’s a lot of Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift,” he said. When the interviewer noted that Aaradhya was a Swiftie, Abhishek added that Ariana Grande was another favourite. He also shared that his daughter enjoys music from the 1980s and is getting into bands such as Bon Jovi, Van Halen and Metallica. “Thankfully, she also loves ’80s music and is getting into Bon Jovi, Van Halen and Metallica, so that’s fun. She has an eclectic sense of music, so I’m safe. I don’t have to just listen to all these other artists,” he said with a laugh.
“I didn’t even know a single song”
One of the most interesting parts of the conversation was Abhishek’s account of attending an Ariana Grande concert with his family. “During our summer break, we were abroad, and she took us to see an Ariana Grande concert. I didn’t even know a single song, but that woman could sing,” he said. The experience made an impression on him, particularly Grande’s voice and the response she received from her young fans. “Oh my God, the quality of her voice was unbelievable. And seeing the fandom these young singers have was amazing,” he said. Abhishek also spoke about how older listeners sometimes dismiss the music popular with younger generations. “I think they’re also immensely talented. I know the older generation tends to say, ‘Oh no, we don’t want to listen to Taylor Swift.’ But actually, they make great music,” he said.
An old picture of Abhishek with his daughter Aaradhya.
What parents can take from this
Parents and teenagers do not always share the same interests. The music one generation grew up with may sound unfamiliar to the next, and the reverse can be true too. Abhishek’s story offers a practical reminder: parents do not have to share every preference with their children to take an interest in what they enjoy.Ask your child to be the expert. Instead of simply playing your favourite songs or dismissing a singer you do not know, ask your child to choose three songs and explain what they like about each one. Listen together without turning it into a test of whose taste is better. You could also let your child plan a family activity around one of their interests, whether it is music, a film or a game. The aim is not to pretend to like everything they like. It is to give them a chance to share something that matters to them and to show that their interests are worth your time.
