In a small London studio, photographer and creative entrepreneur Naroop Singh is exploring a subject that’s close to home: fatherhood. Best known for his bold visual work and as co-founder of the creative agency Back The Brave, his latest project steps away from the world of campaigns and celebrity shoots. This time, it’s personal. It’s called The Dad Project.
Launched from the ashes of personal upheaval, The Dad Project began as an emotional necessity. “When I separated from my wife and was going through the divorce process, I was struggling to find resources that could help single fathers,” he shares. “I looked for a space to connect with other single dads, but nothing existed.” What started as a portrait series featuring eight single fathers of colour evolved into a podcast, then a movement, and now a growing mental health platform built on vulnerability, authenticity, and community.
On the surface, it’s a podcast. But at its core, The Dad Project is a lifeline—especially for men navigating complex emotional terrain without a roadmap.
Healing in High-Definition
Season two of the podcast opened with a raw, soul-baring conversation between Naroop and his own father—a moment that marked not just a narrative arc, but a profound emotional shift. “My dad said to me after recording, ‘I never realised I have 20 years of pain still in me,’” Naroop recalls. “He’s watched the episode over ten times. Every time, he says he feels a little bit lighter.”
That unexpected release—the kind of clarity found not on a retreat or in a seminar, but through real, heart-led dialogue—is the golden thread running through The Dad Project. It’s a reminder that healing doesn’t always require a Himalayan pilgrimage. Sometimes, it’s found across the kitchen table.
A New Masculinity
Despite the title, The Dad Project isn’t just about fathers. “It’s about men’s mental health in general,” Naroop clarifies. Guests range from single dads and therapists to breathwork coaches and brothers. “What I’m really looking for are authentic stories,” he says. “You don’t have to be famous—you just have to be real.”
The project is built on the quiet power of vulnerability. Naroop isn’t afraid to tackle themes often brushed under the rug—grief, generational trauma, emotional repression. “There’s still this outdated notion that mothers love more than fathers. That’s just not true,” he says firmly. “Fathers love deeply—but often don’t know how to express it.”
Through each episode, he’s helping men give what they may never have received: affirmation, tenderness, permission to feel. As he puts it, “You can’t give what you don’t have. But you can learn. And you can heal.”
Building a Brave Brotherhood
Community, unsurprisingly, plays a central role. “If I didn’t have my friends and family when I was going through my divorce, I don’t know how I’d have managed,” he reflects. With his daughter now nine years old, his day-to-day involves not just school runs and homework, but planning playdates and nurturing a sense of stability.
That’s why The Dad Project is evolving beyond digital content. Real-life meetups and men’s circles are next on the agenda. “Men need to talk to other men,” he says simply. “When you realise you’re not the only one struggling, it gives you strength. There’s great power in brotherhood.”
“This Project is Saving Lives”
While the podcast’s primary audience is men, a surprising majority of messages come from women. “Wives, sisters, mothers—they’re the ones often sharing the episodes with the men in their lives,” Naroop says. “Women are helping bring this support into male spaces. That’s powerful.”
He’s also had men reach out via Instagram, LinkedIn—even at the gym. “One guy came up to me and said, ‘You’re helping me process my own relationship with my dad.’ That’s when you know the work matters.”
“I helped a man climb a mountain and realised that I got to the top too.”
It’s one of his favourite quotes—and the essence of The Dad Project. In giving voice to others, Naroop has found his own.
A Father’s Day Reflection
As Father’s Day arrives, Naroop’s message is clear and compassionate: “You don’t have to be perfect. Just be present. Love your children with honesty and intention. And if you can’t give everything, give what you can. That’s enough.”
In a world that often sidelines dads—especially single fathers of colour—The Dad Project is a radical, radiant reclamation. It’s about showing up, speaking out, and creating space for conversations that change lives.
And this Father’s Day, it’s a reminder that fatherhood, at its best, isn’t a performance—it’s a practice. One that begins with listening.
Owais Khan on Fatherhood, Bad Jokes and Real Legacy
Meet Owais Khan, the ultimate multi-hyphenate powerhouse. From ex-model and TV star to personal trainer, he’s reinvented himself as a savvy property developer and hotelier. But that’s just the beginning. Owais is also a sharp-witted stand-up comedian, a compelling podcast host, and has dreams of launching his own production company, which he’s actively working on. Whether on screen, stage, or behind the scenes, Owais is making waves and rewriting the playbook on what it means to be a modern creative entrepreneur.
Owais Khan wears many hats—property developer, personal trainer, comedian, podcaster, and former model—but there’s one role that matters more to him than all the others: dad.
Since the birth of his daughter, Owais’s world has shifted in ways he didn’t expect. “Fatherhood means absolutely everything to me,” he says. “It’s the most overwhelming and powerful love I never knew was possible until I held my daughter for the first time.” The moment was transformative, giving his life fresh meaning, direction—and a kind of emotional clarity he hadn’t realised he needed. “She pulled me out of places I didn’t even realise I was lost in,” he reflects.
Now, fatherhood underpins every decision he makes. “It’s no longer just about personal goals or success. It’s about becoming someone she can be proud of.”
Public Life, Private Focus
While Owais is no stranger to being in the public eye, he’s intentional about keeping his daughter out of the spotlight. “Being a dad comes before anything else—that’s my number one role, no matter what,” he says. “She didn’t choose the spotlight, I did. So, it’s my job to shield her from as much of the noise as I can.”
That clarity around priorities has also reframed what success and legacy mean to him. “Before, it was about achievements, milestones, recognition. But now, it’s about the example I’m setting for my child. Legacy isn’t just what I leave behind professionally—it’s about the values I pass on, the love I give, and the kind of world I’m helping to shape.”
The Lighter Side of Dad Life
Of course, no dad story is complete without a few dad jokes—and Owais leans into them unapologetically. “I’m 100% guilty of being that dad—the king of bad jokes. I’ve got a pun locked and loaded for every situation,” he laughs. “The rest of the family already roll their eyes for my daughter, because she’s not quite old enough yet.”
And when it comes to the ‘ultimate dad flex’? Owais keeps it real. “I’ve been hands-on from day one—nappy changes, bedtime routines, midnight feeds. I’m always ‘airport dad’, suitcases checked in, passports ready, making sure we all survive the adventure.” He’s proud to stay sharp, even when running on minimal sleep. “I never wear mismatched socks, I’ve still got abs—and I hide my tired eyes behind sunglasses. That’s my flex.”
A Changed Man
Like many fathers, Owais didn’t expect the emotional depth parenting would bring. “No one warned me I’d be this tired,” he jokes, “but also no one warned me I’d cry at every sweet fatherhood post I see on social media.” It’s all part of the unexpected beauty of the journey. “It’s made me more empathetic, more patient, and more understanding in ways I didn’t know I needed.”
When asked how he hopes his daughter would describe him, Owais keeps it simple: fun, loving, and safe. “Fun because we’re always being silly, loving because she knows how much I adore her, and safe because when she’s in my arms, the world feels calm for her.”
And really, that’s what it all comes down to. In the midst of career changes, creative ventures and public platforms, Owais is most proud of the quiet, consistent presence he offers at home. “Showing up, being present, and making memories—that’s the real flex.”
A Father's Strength: Nemash Patel on Presence, Perspective and the Power of Showing Up
For Nemash Patel, fatherhood isn’t about grand gestures or public accolades—it’s about quiet consistency, meaningful connection, and being the steady voice in the background when it matters most. A seasoned marketing strategist and proud dad to teenage sons Kian (17) and Rishan (16), Nemash was raised in a close-knit family where bonds ran deep and showing up for loved ones was second nature.
After navigating the emotional terrain of divorce, he discovered a renewed purpose in being fully present for his children—and in supporting other fathers doing the same. As a key voice in The Dad Project, a platform fostering open conversations around mental health and masculinity, Nemash is helping to shift the culture around modern fatherhood.
Known by friends as kind, dependable, and always the first to check in, Nemash brings heart, humility, and a healthy dose of dad humour to everything he does—proving that being a great dad isn’t about perfection, but presence.
"Fatherhood is no longer just a title—it's the core of who I am."
When asked how becoming a father has shaped him, Nemash is direct: “Before my divorce, I was present in body but often absent in spirit. Now, I’m all-in with every moment I get with my boys.”
That turning point reshaped everything. Time with his sons became more intentional, more sacred. “The reality of not seeing them every day made me value our time together. That scarcity made me realise how precious fatherhood is.”
Today, every decision—at work or within The Dad Project—is filtered through one lens: being the father his children deserve.
Keeping it real—at home and beyond
While he’s not one for the spotlight, Nemash recently stepped up to speak on The Dad Project podcast—and revealed he’s the same person behind the mic as he is in his living room.
“When they’re with me, I put my phone away, focus on them, and try to make every moment count,” he says. “That clarity, knowing when I’m ‘on duty’ as a father, keeps me grounded.”
His success no longer hinges on external metrics—it’s about the emotional foundation he’s building with his kids. “My legacy isn’t a bank balance,” he adds. “It’s the impact I have on my children and on other men who might be struggling.”
Dad jokes, dodgy slang and drop-offs in tracksuits
Like many dads, Nemash isn’t afraid to lean into the clichés—especially when it comes to humour.
“I drop the worst dad jokes. And I try to use their lingo—‘fam’, ‘innit’—they hate it,” he laughs. “But if it gets a laugh, even at my expense, I’m happy to play the part.”
And his ultimate dad flex? “Still doing the school drop-off for my youngest… usually in tracksuit bottoms that have seen better days, a hoodie only fit for gardening and a cap pulled low. Definitely not embarrassing at all (at least, that’s what I tell myself).”
Humbled, outsmarted, and learning every day
With two teenage boys, moments of humility are regular occurrences. “My eldest is 6'4" and into the gym—I’ve officially banned play fights at home,” he jokes. And trivia night? “We’ll be watching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, I shout the wrong answer, and my youngest calmly corrects me. Keeps me on my toes.”
The joy in the everyday
What’s been the biggest surprise of fatherhood? For Nemash, it’s how deeply his sons’ growth and character move him.
“I never thought I could get so much joy out of someone else’s achievements. They make me proud—not just with what they do, but with how they carry themselves.”
Sure, there’s still the eye-rolls and light teasing, but at the core, there’s respect, love, and a genuine bond. “The fact that they actually want to hang out with me? That’s priceless.”
Building something bigger
Through his work with The Dad Project, Nemash is helping to create space for conversations that matter—honest, vulnerable reflections on fatherhood, identity and mental health.
“I just want other men to know they’re not alone. Whether it’s through a chat, a laugh, or just listening—sometimes that’s all it takes.”
And perhaps that’s the greatest gift of all: showing up, without ego, to be the dad your children need, and the man your community can count on.
