Bollywood has changed a lot over the decades, especially the way leading ladies harmoniously balance their professional and personal lives.
During this course of change, some of these inspirational Bollywood women have transformed the traditional perspective of motherhood. It was not an easy journey, nor was it an effortlessly claimed prize. Yet, these ladies were successful in not only changing motherhood norms in Bollywood but were like icons to the contemporary women stuck in primeval societal frames.
Kudos To All The Single Mothers
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The topic of single motherhood has always been controversial in Indian society. It doesn’t matter if she is a celebrity or an ordinary working woman. Therefore, when women in the spotlight, like Sushmita Sen (Miss Universe 1994) and Raveena Tandon opted for single motherhood, it was indeed a momentous and inspirational milestone for the women in the country.
The successful actor and entrepreneur, Sushmita Sen was one of the pioneers of celebrity single parenthood. She is a mother of two beautiful girls, whom she adopted and has showered with love ever since.
Prior to Sushmita Sen, Raveena Tandon also opted for adoption and was a proud single parent to two adorable girls. This was in the ’90s, and before she tied the knot with her current husband, Anil Thadani. Other leading ladies of Bollywood who have triumphantly managed to fine-tune the balance between single motherhood and career are Karishma Kapoor, Pooja Bedi, Neena Gupta, and Konkona Sen Sharma.
Working During Pregnancy
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If you follow Bollywood news closely, you must have heard or read the phrase “no pregnancy clause”. This clause found generally in employment contracts forbids pregnancy, a breach of which will lead to termination. The clause was much talked about when Aishwarya Rai walked out of Madhur Bhandarkar’s movie, Heroine, causing him a loss of four crores. She was later replaced by Kareena Kapoor Khan.
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The only other known time when a director insisted on such a clause was Subhash Ghai during the filming of Khal Nayak. Though Madhuri Dixit was not married, she was made to sign this clause as the director was threatened by the close relationship between the female lead and Sanjay Dutt.
The “no pregnancy clause” has invited a lot of mixed opinions from the Bollywood fraternity. The leading ladies of Bollywood, however, have answered the various concerns by being a professional even during the overwhelming times of pregnancy.
Kareena Kapoor Khan was pregnant during the shooting of Veere Di Wedding and so was Jaya Bachchan in Sholay, as was Hema Malini in Satte Pe Satta. Lisa Haydon was three months pregnant when she was shooting her web-series, The Trip. She also shared beautiful pictures of her pregnant self on her social media which was motivating and inspiring.
Working After Maternity Break
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No longer do the leading ladies of Bollywood need to choose between being a fulfilling mother and a successful actor. Impressive women like Konkona Sen Sharma, Shilpa Shetty, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sridevi, Rani Mukherji, and Kajol have proven time and again that motherhood doesn’t necessarily mean the end of an acting career. These actors still excel in the projects they participate in, and therefore, establish inspirational goals for women all across the country. There are other actors like Twinkle Khanna, who don’t consider acting as her cup of tea, and therefore, have branched out into being a writer and interior designer. Don’t be surprised when I tell you that she is very successful.
The “Appropriate Age” Of Motherhood And Marriage
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With a steady career-goal on their mind, many actors keep postponing motherhood until they are in their late thirties. Both Shilpa Shetty and Aishwarya Rai welcomed motherhood at the age of 37, while Gul Panag recently joined the club at the age of 39. They approach motherhood the same way they approach any crucial decision in their life – with a lot of thought and a lot of caution. With procedures like IVF and surrogacy, it is now possible for women to ignore the “ticking biological clock” and welcome parenthood only when they are ready for the responsibility.
Can you think of any other Bollywood leading ladies who have changed motherhood norms and never settled for anything else than what they desired? If so, let us know in the comments below.
