Kareena Kapoor-Khan on juggling expectations of her professional and personal life
Ashwini Deshmukh (TIMES LIFE; July 22, 2018)

Does marriage change the way the industry looks at actresses?
People have finally understood that marriage is just a culmination of love. Earlier, the industry could never understand the fact that a woman can get married, have children and still work. But now it’s getting more and more accepted. Actresses like Vidya Balan, Anushka Sharma, now Sonam and myself for that matter, all top order actresses, are constantly on the move. Finally, marriage has come down to what it is, culmination of love between two people, who want to spend their life together.

How easy or difficult was it for you to get back to work after the birth of Taimur?
I had support from my family, I had a lot of help, support from my sister (Karisma Kapoor) and most importantly, Saif. He comes from a family where his mother was working, his sister is working. It was easy for him to understand that I would take Taimur with me if I had to for a shoot.

Would you agree it’s still a man’s world.
Yes. And it’ll always remain a male-centric industry. But actresses like Kangana, Vidya, Priyanka (Chopra) have been brave in their choices. I truly respect them. Right down to Tumhari Sulu, Vidya has been amazing.

Taimur has won millions of fans and is a rage online...
I don’t like that at all, neither does Saif. As parents, we are scared. I’d want my son to grow up as normally as possible. Saif’s even more particular about this. He wants Taimur to grow up, away from the eye of the paparazzi and the film scenario. Because Saif himself didn’t grow up in a film atmosphere, although his mother (Sharmila Tagore) was an actress. His father (the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi) as we know, belonged to the cricketing world. But in today’s time it’s tough. But I do wish he didn’t get photographed as much.

How do you balance the pressures of motherhood, getting back into shape and facing the camera...
Getting ready for the camera is something I don’t need to do. I was ready the minute I was born. We women somehow know how to multitask. I’m enjoying every minute of it. I’m balancing it well. My time with my child is my time. I don’t need to flaunt it on Instagram. I don’t need to flaunt it in front of the media. Like I don’t need to carry my child at the airport to prove how much I love him. My husband too believes it’s not needed. By carrying the child in my arms I don’t need to prove that I’m a hands-on mother. Even if I have two hours with Saif, Taimur and myself in the bedroom, it’s the quality of time and wanting to be together that matters, rather than the quantity of time we spend. I come from that school of parenting.

Were there moments where you feared a breakdown... staying up nights and reporting to work the next day, or leaving behind Taimur when he was unwell...?
Of course! These things are part and parcel of motherhood. It’s also a bit of a downer. But that’s the joy of being a mother. The late nights, being there for your child, I don’t view these as pain. I was mentally ready for it.

A major change that motherhood has brought about...
Being a mother has made me realise that the biggest responsibility is to be a mother. I’ve been a responsible daughter. I’ve been a responsible wife. I hope and pray that I’m a responsible mother to Taimur as well.