Indonesian actor Sahrul Gunawan is shifting his parenting approach as his children enter their teenage years, moving away from one-way communication to foster open dialogue and trust. This shift recently yielded a proud moment when his daughter turned down a boy’s romantic advances to focus on her education and career goals.
The Bottom Line
- Sahrul Gunawan abandoned his previous one-way communication style in favor of building mutual trust with his teenage children.
- His daughter recently declined a peer’s romantic pursuits, choosing instead to prioritize her studies and future ambitions.
- The actor and his wife, Dine Mutiara, are actively planning their children’s upcoming higher education, including intended moves to Singapore and Australia.
Shifting from One-Way Directives to Open Dialogue
Speaking at Studio Trans TV in Mampang, Jakarta Selatan, Sahrul Gunawan detailed how his approach to raising his children has evolved on Monday (26/10/2026). In his statement, Sahrul explained that the communication pattern he previously applied is now being adjusted to match the needs of his growing children. Now that his children are teenagers, he recognizes that giving directions is no longer sufficient. Instead, parents must cultivate a trustworthy environment where children feel secure sharing their daily social experiences and personal challenges.
Sahrul emphasized that establishing this foundation of trust allows family members to stay closely connected during the teenage years. According to him, it is not enough for parents only to give directions, as they also need to be figures who can be trusted and used as a place to share stories. Rather than keeping secrets out of fear or hesitation, his children are more willing to bring their real-world dilemmas directly to the household.
Prioritizing Education Over Romance
This deliberate pivot toward open communication quickly produced tangible results within the family. Sahrul shared that his daughter recently confided in him about a young man who attempted to approach her by offering attention and gifts. Rather than accepting the courtship, the teenager turned the advances down entirely.
The reasoning behind the rejection brought immediate relief to the actor. His daughter explained that she had no interest in dating at this stage in her life, preferring to concentrate fully on her education and long-term ambitions. Witnessing his daughter successfully navigate teenage peer dynamics and establish clear priorities significantly lessened Sahrul’s parental anxieties.
Planning International Higher Education Paths
Building on this academic focus, Sahrul has turned his attention toward mapping out his children’s university futures. With his own career safely established, the actor is channeling his energy into supporting their upcoming academic milestones, with assistance from his wife, Dine Mutiara, who actively mentors and monitors their academic progress. Family discussions initially considered keeping the children closer to home in Jakarta, including a moment when Sahrul shared report card results with the hope that they would attend school in Jakarta. However, those plans adapted to match the students’ personal goals.
| Child | Destination | Program Type |
|---|---|---|
| Zema (First Child) | Singapore | Technological University (Targeted) |
| Ezar (Second Child) | Indonesia & Australia | International Undergraduate Program (IUP) |
His oldest child, Zema, is planned to continue her studies in Singapore next year, having set her sights on a technological institution based on her own goal-setting and reasons for studying abroad that left the actor with no reason to object.
