Showing posts with label Sameera Reddy son. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sameera Reddy son. Show all posts
I am blessed that my children are growing up close to nature-Sameera Reddy
4:27 PM
Kimberly Colaco (BOMBAY TIMES; June 5, 2026)
When Sameera Reddy arrived in Goa for what was meant to be a 10-day holiday in June 2020, she was looking for a break from Mumbai's relentless pace. She never left. Seven years later, the actress has built a life in Bastora, North Goa, that is intertwined with the rhythms of nature — one where compost replaces garbage, homegrown produce fills the kitchen, and her children learn life lessons from the outdoors rather than screens. For Sameera, making Goa home was never just about moving into a new house. It was about embracing a different way of living.
A Garden That Feeds the Family
Step into her property and you'll find more than just greenery. Mango, chikoo, coconut, bimbli, areca nut, breadfruit and banana trees dot the landscape — many planted by Sameera herself. "We also have our own vegetable garden where we grow spinach, salad leaves and other seasonal produce. A lot of what we eat comes directly from our garden," she says.
Nothing goes to waste. She shares, "The banana flower goes into our bhaji, the stem is used for healthy juices and, of course, the fruit becomes everything from snacks to banana bread. It's all pesticide-free. When the harvest is abundant, our neighbours and friends go home with bunches of bananas." If the family wants a cup of lemongrass tea, they simply walk into the backyard.
"I'm blessed that my children are growing up close to nature. They're eating boiled jackfruit seeds as snacks — that wouldn't happen in a city. If they spot a snake, they know not to panic. They simply move away and respect its space,” she shares.
Learning the Art of Composting
One of the biggest changes Goa brought into Sameera's life was composting. "I knew absolutely nothing about it before moving here," she admits. "Today, all our wet waste is turned into compost and goes back into the soil. No wet waste leaves our home. For me, that's been a huge transformation."
The journey wasn't seamless. There were failed attempts, plenty of reading and hours spent watching tutorials. "We failed a few times when we started. I did a lot of research, watched YouTube videos and kept learning. Eventually, we figured it out," the actress says.
Small Habits, Big Impact
Sustainability, Sameera says, isn't about grand gestures. It's about everyday choices. She adds, "We should try to save water and make use of what we already have around us. We have to be conscious about not wasting resources. My car always has two or three cloth bags. I make sure I don't bring plastic home."
It's All About Sharing and Caring
Of all the lessons Goa has taught her, perhaps the most meaningful is the spirit of community. "The best part about Goa is the way people share. I never experienced this kind of culture in Mumbai. Here, people exchange fruits, vegetables, plants and produce simply because they have enough to share. It's taught me the joy of giving and the beauty of living together," she says.
If I were to come in as a youngster today, I wouldn’t choose the safe route, say a Karan Johar film-Sameera Reddy
10:23 AM
Returning to movies with Chimney, Sameera Reddy talks about Bollywood’s changing landscape
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; July 21, 2025)
A simple question from her nine-year-old son Hans led Sameera Reddy to make a comeback after a 12-year hiatus. The actor, last seen in the Kannada film Varadhanayaka (2013), is returning to the screen with the supernatural thriller, Chimney.
“My son’s school friends began telling him that I used to be an actor. He didn’t really know that side of me. So, a year ago, he came to me and asked, ‘How come you stopped acting?’ When I told him that I did so because I wanted to be with my family, he said that I should pursue acting again. It was cute for a nine-year-old to tell his mum, ‘Don’t worry. I will take care of my sister [Nyra],’” she smiles.
Reddy is popular on social media thanks to her content about parenting, body positivity, as well as her funny sketches. The actor believes she has been her most creative self in the past few years — an opinion she shares about the Hindi film industry too. Reddy, who forayed into Bollywood in 2002 with Maine Dil Tujhko Diya, says she’d have more options to experiment had she debuted today.
“Now, there is so much space for the unknowns who come and do a hatke film. They are the game-changers. If I were to come in as a youngster today, I wouldn’t choose the safe route, say a KJo [Karan Johar] film. I would take the unique, eccentric films. I always played that safe bet — either sexy or sweet roles. The in-between was not working [during my time].”
A mother needs to be told that “You are allowed to take a step back and say, ‘I am overwhelmed’”-Sameera Reddy
8:21 AM
If young Indian mommies have to name one celebrity mother they follow, most will undoubtedly say Sameera Reddy a.k.a. Messy Mama. The actor-turned-influencer’s hilarious reels on parenting and life in general are super relatable and have won her 1.6 million followers. The 44-year-old mother to Hans, 8, and Nyra, 4, spoke to Neha Bhayana about postpartum depression, sex education and how to create a safe space for kids
Neha Bhayana (THE TIMES OF INDIA; July 30, 2023)
Most moms are trying to be super moms. You, on the other hand, go by the moniker Messy Mama. What made you do that?
I am seriously messy (laughs). Look, I didn’t even set my hair for this interview. Besides, who are these super moms who know everything? I am very honest about the fact that I’m learning on the job. I did this with my career too. I believe that once you put the façade down and just surrender to the fact that we all are a work in progress, the energy changes. I still make mistakes with Nyra and Hans. I sometimes get angry, I shout. My husband just looks at me and mouths ‘calm parenting, conscious parenting’ and I am like ‘oh yeah, sorry!’. We can’t be the way our parents were. Things have changed so much. There is so much chatter on social media; so much perfect parenting. There are moms who claim they don’t give their kids any sugar or screen time. I find that hard to believe. I do everything in balance. I believe whatever is working for me right now is the right way. Motherhood is your journey, and you have to make it yours. I have made it mine and I am so glad. No regrets. Even if I keep making mistakes, I am not going to feel bad because that’s part of the journey.
Women are usually tight-lipped about postpartum depression. What made you speak up?
Just like marriage, motherhood is also glamorized and portrayed to be something magical. When a woman is pregnant, everyone pampers her and then when she gives birth, the whole focus changes to the baby. The mother is expected to keep up with everything, be it breastfeeding, body fat or hormonal changes. I think that’s when postpartum really hits you hard. There are so many women out there who do not even know they are struggling with depression. But such feelings cannot be disregarded. Everybody is fighting his or her own battles. I respect people’s battles and that’s why postpartum needs to be spoken about. A mother needs to be told that “yes, however beautiful and amazing this phase of your life is supposed to be, you are allowed to take a step back and say, ‘I am overwhelmed’.” This luxury has to be allowed. I call this a ‘luxury’ because it is that in most houses. So, give it to your wife, give it to that mother, give it to your daughter-in-law, because she deserves it. I spoke about it because I was shocked. It took me a couple of months after Hans’ birth to even figure out that I was suffering from postpartum depression. What killed me is that when I actually started asking around, most people just shrugged it off saying it is “just the blues”. When I finally understood the condition, I started talking about it openly. When I gave birth to Nyra, I was better prepared. I knew what to do and how to combat it. Being open and truthful to yourself can really set you free.
Are you a conservative mom or a cool one? What if little Nyra wants to get a tattoo when she grows up?
I will be totally chilled. As a couple we are not into tattoos, but I have a mother-in-law whose arms are full of tattoos, so I am used to it. We have to accept our child’s wishes. Our parents were very pucca about how they wanted us to be and what was perceived in society as the correct way to be. As a new-age parent, I will allow my child to do what she wishes but I will educate her about what she is getting into. I will tell her what could go wrong but I will leave the decision to her. Stopping a kid does not work. Besides, I think with children of this generation, I want to be on their side. You have to walk a very fine line where you are that strict parent, but you are also their safe space. That’s necessary in this digital era where children are exposed to so much. I have started telling Hans whatever is happening around us; sometimes, the harsh realities of life. It is hard to do this but I have to because things are moving too fast. We (parents) can’t be naïve; we have to strike that balance.
You recently spoke about the importance of sex education, and about how your parents used to cover your eyes when there was a kissing scene on screen…
Yeah, I think I’m still uncomfortable. I think that happened to all of us from that generation. But I never do that with Hans and Nyra. We usually stick to animated children’s films but if at all there is such a scene on screen, we just don’t react. I don’t want them to think this is so exciting because it is forbidden. The minute you say something is wrong or bad, kids will be like, ‘Whoa, what is this?’. I don’t expose them to something that I wouldn’t want them to be exposed to but at the same time, I’m not going to shield them from everything.
We, parents, can’t turn a blind eye. We have to be aware and alert, especially with cybercrime and so much stuff going around with children. If you’re giving an iPad to your child, especially YouTube, you have to be careful.
I am very open with my kids. I have spoken to Hans about everything under the sun and moon already. Children hear things in school and you want to clear it out for them. It is natural to be curious. I think both my kids are going to have that safe space with me, where it’s our space, it’s our time, where nothing that’s going to be discussed (between us) is going to be discussed with anybody else. I think today’s parents need to have that equation with their child. I will not ‘bro’ them to a point where they walk all over me, but they need that ‘bestie space’ where they can tell me whatever happens and they don’t feel judged.
You are unapologetic about greys, stretch marks and belly rolls on Instagram and have become a body positivity advocate. How can parents ensure their children are comfortable in their own skin, no matter what?
Inclusivity is a word that I started using with Hans when he was just four or five. I explained to him that there are different people. And if he came across anybody that was special, he needs to make them feel even more special. Inclusivity and body positivity go hand in hand. When you are raising your child to be a child of the world, you have to prepare them. We already have years of discrimination based on skin colour and god knows what all behind us. We have to undo it in our generation.
How do you get your kids to listen?
I appreciate them a lot. I don’t clap and say “great job” but I say: “Nyra, I appreciate that you put your toys back.” It is just a conversation which is very subtle, but it encourages them to do the task. After they do it, I thank them and maybe even give them a high-five. When they feel like they did something grown up, they want to do it again. This kind of positive reinforcement totally works but not in a way where you are constantly commenting and annoying the child.
Does your husband just ‘help out’ with the kids or does he actually share the load?
My husband (Akshai Varde) is on another level. He taught me how to put a diaper on Hans and he was the swaddle king. Besides breastfeeding, he was on for it all. When he is back from work, he takes over. He has done that from day one without making it look like he’s doing me a favour. We are a team. I know, it is rare. It comes with conversation. It comes with asking for help. It also comes with the man who is willing. I think when we glamorise men ‘helping out’, it is a start for them to realize that they should be doing it without it being looked upon as something special.
You share a close bond with your mom-in-law a.k.a Sassy Saasu. Do you two ever have parenting-related clashes?
I got lucky. I have a mother-in-law who’s really cool and a lot of fun. She supports but does not interfere. Like if she sees me grinding almonds and putting it into the kids’ porridge, she may suggest something. But if I say ‘no, I prefer it this way,’ she respects that. I appreciate this. I know it is not the case in most houses.
Do Hans and Nyra know they are social media stars?
They have never seen themselves on social media. I barely use my mobile when I am around them, and no one at home is supposed to show them the phone. We live a very protected life in Goa, literally away from the buzz. My kids go to a regular school. Sometimes, when people come up to them, they are surprised. Hans says, “Look mamma, that lady is smiling at me.” They just feel that a lot of people care for them (smiles). When people approach us in public places, I politely ask them not to mention any reels. There can be a lot of pressure on social media. You can’t let that reach your kids, and it’s worked for me till now. Even when I shoot videos with the kids, it is all very spontaneous and fun. I never say ‘beta, naach’. If we feel like dancing, we dance and I record it. We do it out of joy and masti, not because of any compulsion. We get a lot of advertisement offers too. But I don’t do all of them and I always give the kids a choice. Recently, Hans shot a lollipop commercial with me because he loves that lollipop.
It’s important to create a happy space for kids if they test COVID positive-Sameera Reddy
7:52 AM
Sameera Reddy on how she kept her kids, Hans and Nyra, upbeat during quarantine after they tested positive for COVID-19 recently
Suhas Yellapantula (BOMBAY TIMES; April 21, 2021)
On Saturday, Sameera Reddy took to her social media handle to announce that she has tested positive for COVID-19. For the actress, the Coronavirus diagnosis comes at the end of one of the most challenging weeks of her life. Sameera reveals that it was her children — five-year-old son, Hans, and 20-monthold daughter, Nyra, who had first tested positive for the virus. “Since we moved to Goa in June 2020, we have been extremely careful. We took all the precautions and I haven’t visited my parents for a year. So when Hans started developing symptoms, I immediately got him tested. As a mother, no one can prepare you enough for your child testing positive. When the doctor called me and said that Hans was COVID positive, I just froze. I simply broke down,” she says.
Sameera recalls, “I then did some research and realised that it is not uncommon for children to get the virus. I spoke to our doctor and we put Hans on vitamins and paracetamol that was prescribed by the doctor. He had fever for four days and then he recovered.”
Soon after, Sameera noticed that her 20-month-old daughter, Nyra, too, began to develop symptoms. She says, “Nyra’s just a baby and she doesn’t even know what’s happening, so she can’t exactly share her discomfort with us. We got the test done for her too since she too had a fever. And our worst fears came true.”
Sameera understands that many parents don’t like to share that their children have got the virus, but she reckons it’s important to talk about it so that there’s more awareness about the fact that children can get it too. “This isn’t the time to hush things up; we should speak up so we can share the fears and support each other through it,” she says, adding, “I urge all young parents not to panic if their child tests positive. Just follow the medication prescribed by the doctor and try to make things as comfortable as possible for your child and create a positive environment. That’s what Akshai and I have tried to do.”
Acknowledging the challenge of keeping your COVID-positive kids in quarantine until they test negative, Sameera says, “Sadly, there’s a deep-rooted fear of COVID even among children. I didn’t want Hans to be affected by it, so I didn’t even tell him he has COVID; he thinks it’s just a fever. But as a responsible citizen, I cannot allow him to go outside and interact with others. I immediately called up the neighbours and informed them, and told them not to send their kids to play with him. I’ve made sure he doesn’t leave the house.”
The Musafir actress, adds, “Quarantine has been hard on my kids, but I’ve tried to make things as positive as I can for both of them. I dance with them, try to make them smile. Hans has unlimited access to TV unlike before, so he binge-watches his favourite shows. To get them hydrated, I played water drinking games with them. I’ve also played lots of music and have turned storyteller too — I’ve told tons of stories, anything to keep the mood happy and upbeat.”
Unlike in the case of adults who can self-isolate, children need the care, love and personal touch of their parents the most at this time. So, isolating the kids wasn’t even an option, says Sameera. “Children need to be comforted when they’re sick. That was our only priority, nothing else; not even our own health. By the time we tested positive for the virus, we were at least thankful that they are out of it and we can focus on ourselves,” she says.
The Race actress says she and her husband have mild symptoms, but are on the road to recovery. “One big relief for me is that my mother-in-law is living separately, so we didn’t have to worry about exposing her. My husband and I have taken medication prescribed by the doctor and hopefully, all of us will be out of it soon. We’re all collectively going through some tough times and I think it’s important that we dispel fear, break the stigma and support each other. It’s the only way we’re going to get through this,” says Sameera, signing off.
I spent 9 months making this child, I’m not going to be scared now-Sameera Reddy
7:05 AM
After battling postpartum depression with first pregnancy, Sameera Reddy is scaling mountains with her second child
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 3, 2019)
From an underwater photoshoot to 6300 feet above water level, Sameera Reddy has already taken her two-and-a-half-month-old daughter places. Last Wednesday, the actress, with husband Akshai Varde and kids, Hans and Nyra, travelled to Karnataka just months after delivering her daughter on July 12. In comfy pajamas, with little Nyra strapped to her front, she climbed Mullayanagiri and shared their journey with the world.Back in the Bay, she is flushed with pride and recounts that the adventure started with a nature walk in the coffee plantations of Chikmagalur. “It was an educational trip for four-and-a-half year-old Hans. We also went on a safari in Bhadra reserve so that he could see animals like tigers and peacocks, two of which he spotted right in front of the door. It was a special moment for him. Then, we went hiking and I decided to scale Karnataka’s highest peak. It’s something I was really excited about,” she beams, confiding that after Hans was born, she had suffered from postpartum depression and sat at home for a year, refusing to step out. “I was confused, feeling low and crying all the time. Maybe it was the baby blues and I did not want to go down that road again. That’s why I have been up and about since the first day of this pregnancy. I was shooting till a day prior to Nyra’s birth.”
And just how difficult was it travelling with a two-month old baby? Sameera insists it was smooth sailing. “My Nyra is an explorer, she was wide awake all the way, checking out everything. Not once did she cry and later she slept really well,” she shares, adding that this time motherhood has made her fearless and debunking all the usual myths, she’s started feeling good from within. “I spent nine months making this beautiful child, I’m not going to be sitting at home being scared now.”
She insists that there’s a bigger purpose in Nyra’s birth which is to tell all new mothers to not worry about their weight but to let go of all their fears and inhibitions, just go out there and have fun.
“My husband now tells me that I have become a new person,” she jokes, admitting that many women have been messaging her that she’s inspired them to embrace motherhood.
Sameera also supports breastfeeding and refuses to be cooped up with her baby within the four walls of her home. “I’ve fed Nyra in the backseat of a car and on the top of a mountain. I should not feel ashamed about feeding my own child,” she reasons.
She has a role model in Kareena Kapoor who’s worked all through her pregnancy and after, doing things her way without listening to anyone. “She is such a hands-on loving mother and I respect her for breaking the myth that motherhood requires you to change your attitude with respect to your career,” she applauds, then, surprises you by telling you that Bollywood is a fake world of social media friendships and glittering parties. “I’ve never been a part of it because I like to be real. I’m sure they wouldn’t like me for doing this.”
Sameera herself has always been adventurous. She went backpacking around Thailand for a month when she was 18. Are any more trips on the cards? “We’ll do one every two months. The next one is to Kerala. I’ll go out and make travel stories with my kids and educate mothers on how to do it,” she signs off with a smile.
It’s a baby girl for Sameera Reddy
9:14 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; July 13, 2019)
On July 11, she was shooting till sundown in Mumbai. And, in the early hours of July 12, Sameera Reddy was rushed to the hospital, where she gave birth to a baby girl. It was a C-section delivery and the mother and baby are doing well.The actress told BT from the hospital, “My husband (Akshai Varde) and son (Hans) are overjoyed. I’m holding my daughter in my arms and it feels magical. It’s a proud moment for both — the Vardes and the Reddys. My son has not left my bedside, he is already behaving like a responsible elder brother. He is guarding my bed, and only whispers in the room so as to not disturb her. He’s the happiest of the lot because he would speak to my bump, and now his sister is finally here with him. I have to thank God for being kind to us.”
Sameera had been posting pictures and videos of her baby bump for the last couple of months. A week ago, she also did an under-water maternity photo-shoot in a bikini, which was widely spoken about on social media.
I asked myself, will Karan Johar like me?-Sameera Reddy
8:41 AM
Pregnant for the second time, actress Sameera Reddy gets candid about the time she was 102 kg, refusing to leave her couch, and worried about 'fitting in'
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; May 5, 2019)
Last week, actress Sameera Reddy, only two months old on the social media platform, put up an Instagram post that has since gone viral. It shows her in her June 2015 avatar, at 102 kg, and then compares it to a picture from last month, where she is down to 80 kg and second-time pregnant. "That post, and the love it got, has given me the courage to do this interview," says the actress, who shot to fame in 1998, with Pankaj Udhas' video for the song Aahista Kijiye Baatein.
She then did movies like Maine Dil Tujhko Diya and Race. Five years ago, she got married to entrepreneur Akshai Varde, and had her first child, son Hans, in 2015. "I got on Instagram and decided that the first thing I will be is honest. I will be fat if I have to be, and use no filters. I feel bad for all the people, including me, feeling FOMO at other people's lives where it's all cool parties and pina coladas on the beach. I want to call that out and say 'that's bull****'."
She may sound like a voice of reason, but Reddy says it has taken her a while to get here, and it's been hell. When we meet her at her home, she is glowing and doesn't mince her words as she chats with us. For a year post her son being born, she didn't let her family take pictures of her as she was 102 kg. The picture on Instagram is the one surviving picture from that time. Pre-pregnancy, she got prolactinoma - high levels of prolactin - that makes it harder to have babies, which led to her popping pills. Post getting pregnant, she got placenta previa - when a baby's placenta partially or totally covers the mother's cervix. "My weight had always been 70 to 75 kg, as I am Reddy girl, tall with heavy bones. Imagine my shock, when during my first pregnancy, I became 102 kg, which didn't even come off once I had the baby." It was a time of anxiety, and fear. "I went through a really dark place. Especially once the comments started coming in. People would come home and ask me, 'arrey aap ko kya ho gaya'. I took Hans in a pram to Joggers Park, and that was the first and last time I went in that year. Random people came up to me and said, 'oh you are Sameera Reddy, we can't recognise you. This house became my fortress."
For the ambitious and upbeat working girl, who was making all the right moves in her career at the time, the world was suddenly a bleak place. Reddy recalls struggling to keep her weight down during her career, and blames the constant dieting and working out for the problems she faced during her first pregnancy. But it's the mental demons that were the real challenge.
"I had thought I would be the glamorous mother, and come back in the limelight. My whole vision went for a toss. I bought into the yummy mummy dream - the glamorous Instagram mommy. I was just a career girl who caved to the into the pressures of keeping up the image." The final straw was when she got alopecia areata, an auto-immune disease that led to her hair falling in clumps. "I had a meltdown. I turned to homeopathy and counselling, I had to talk to someone. I had gone from being an actress receiving all this adulation to having no self worth. I realised how superficial I had been to begin with. I had been in such a vicious cycle - eating lesser, running, thinking of this bag, that stylist, asking questions like 'am I on the best dressed list?'; 'Am I invited to this party?', 'Does Karan Johar like me?'. I wanted to be with the IT crowd, and I was there, schmoozing, and then I just cut off."
But once the switch turned, thanks to yoga, pilates, and the support of her family, Reddy started feeling like herself again - actually, a better version. "I can look at this objectively now, and, it's superb. I was an empty shell, which could be knocked down if something happened, and this whole experience has helped me reinvent myself. I am not because you think am great, I am because I am and I am awesome." As she gets into the seventh month of her pregnancy, she says she isn't worried that it all may happen again. The past has prepared her well for the future. "My husband asked me if I really wanted to do this again. I told him 'I am fearless today'. I have owned this pregnancy, enjoyed it. I have taken no injections, and I do yoga. I have also tackled my own fears, which makes me come from a place where I am extremely bold. It's all going to be ok."
It upsets me to see people fat shame a woman who has just delivered a baby-Sameera Reddy
8:24 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; February 11, 2019)A few days ago, her social media post with her baby bump brought her right back in the headlines. Between 2002 and 2013, Sameera Reddy had made a splash on the big screen with her impressive dance moves, glam image and a fit bod. The actress, who has been part of films like Musafir (2004) and Race (2008), stepped out of the spotlight soon after she got married in 2014. Not one to share every minute of her personal life on social media, she has been relishing her time away from public glare. Now, she lives in a cosy home, tucked in the bylanes of Bandra, and is a hands-on mommy to her three-year-old son, Hans. Over to Sameera, who is expecting her second child and is eager to make a comeback in the movies in the near future. Excerpts:
Your post on a photo-sharing site announced your second pregnancy. You’ve preferred to stay away from the public eye ever since you got married. How do you feel about this drastic change from being a celebrity to being off the grid, completely?
I’m enjoying it. Right after I got married, I had a tough pregnancy and that made me go into a shell. My insecurities became too big and I grew quiet. I stopped stepping out, because I feared that people will judge me. It became stressful to be in the public eye at that time. One part of my heart wanted to come back to the movies right after Hans was born, but the other part didn’t want to. In fact, gradually, I started enjoying my time away from the spotlight. I started leading a normal life. This time around, the pregnancy has been a lot easier on me. It’s joyous and I feel sexy about myself. I am so happy to be out there. This should be the way to deal with such a beautiful phase of your life. That’s why I decided to step out and flaunt my bump.
Kareena Kapoor Khan was the trendsetter in this regard. She flaunted her pregnancy, worked throughout and chose to bounce back immediately after child birth. Even Neha Dhupia did that...
The difference is that people are more accepting of these things now. Kareena and Neha have stepped out and done whatever they wanted to do when they were carrying their babies and people appreciated it. Now, even weight gain due to pregnancy is being accepted and presented beautifully. Of course, there are people who don’t miss a chance to fat-shame a woman, but more power to all the women who step out in style. Today, even pregnant women are considered to be sexy.
The mindset has gradually changed in recent times, but do you think during your first pregnancy, you were nervous and conscious because of the general perception people have about women in showbiz going the family way and to top it, the fear of facing body shame?
Yeah! I was all nerves when I was having my first baby. I was freshly out of show business, but I was still caught up being who I had been for so many years. I felt major FOMO (fear of missing out). The thought that people will judge me for the way I look, refused to leave my mind when I was pregnant and even after I delivered. Now, when I look back, I think I was being silly. This is the industry I chose and it is human nature to judge. Yes, it was my first brush with the experience of being a mother and going through so many changes in my body. I couldn’t cater to the image of being an actress. Maybe, I was not fully prepared to be a mother, but it feels good to see how things have changed now.
Recently, Neha Dhupia was fat-shamed on social media and she retaliated to shut the trolls up. Looking back, do you think that you, too, should have spoken out?
It upsets me to see people fat-shame a woman who has just delivered a baby. It’s in bad taste. Everyone’s mother has been through the same drill. This needs to change right away. I went quiet after my first pregnancy, because of these reasons. I suffered post-partum depression because my physical appearance went through such a change. I had this imaginary gun to my head that actresses are supposed to bounce back and look a certain way. My body didn’t allow me to do that. The harder I tried, the tougher it got. It was supposed to be the most joyous period of my life and I was battling this emotional upheaval. I was torn between loving my son and feeling lost as a woman, who was completely out of shape. It’s a mistake to have not spoken out at that time. It’s brave on Neha’s part to speak her mind and shut people up. The time that a woman takes to regain fitness after childbirth is her business alone.
The second time around, you must be better prepared and it is probably a smoother ride...
Oh, it’s unbelievably exciting. I feel so comfortable dressing up this time around. My confidence is back. My son has conversations with the baby bump. I am at peace with myself. Also, I have had a long break from films, so I am out of the bubble that I once lived in.
Do you miss being in front of the camera?
It was a conscious decision to turn down work when I got married, because I can’t be in and out of two things. I am either in or completely out. I’m amazed to see so many working mothers around me, who balance work and babies so well. For me, Raveena Tandon is a great inspiration. I actually used to be around Raveena a lot when she had her two babies. I loved how she stepped away from everything and returned to work only when she was ready for it. To a degree, even Kajol has done that. It resonated with me, because I can’t do both things; I didn’t have the strength of a working mother. Now, when I come back to work, I will be in it completely. Yes, it won’t happen immediately. It will take about two years, but I will come back. There are so many different avenues today, that actresses will never be short of options. For now, I just want to start stepping out. I want to come across as what I am — a normal woman who makes mistakes like everyone else. The difference is that I was an air-head when I was in my elements those days. I used to have someone doing everything for me. Today, I feel more in control. I can run my life and family without any frills. I was a weak person before, but today, I am more aware and independent. For instance, I don’t have a battery of nannies to run after my baby. I do it myself. It’s a great feeling to be empowered.
Was it ever a huge dilemma to leave film sets for playschools?
It’s the best therapy in the world. My skin is clear without any creams and I get sound sleep. Sometimes, I wonder about the kind of pressure I took upon myself back then. My husband is still shocked about my switch. All the pressure and anxiety vanished when I decided to choose motherhood over films. I owed no one an answer. If I come back now, it will be on my terms, take it or leave it.
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