Ask any new mom and she will tell you about the endless struggles that she is fighting against.
For starters, she struggles with finding the right balance between personal and professional life, facing criticism for her parenting styles or body shaming for her post-pregnancy weight.
Sadly the list is endless.
Shockingly, the life of a celebrity actress, Neha Dhupia hasn’t been any different.
Neha welcomed her new-born girl in November 2018 and since then she is leaving no stone unturned in making her own path.
Being strong and courageous, Neha is not letting the world and society dictate how she is expected to raise her daughter.
So, when she was back for work as a gang leader for the Roadies series within weeks after she brought her daughter home, many of us were rooting for her.
Recently, while talking to Dainik Bhaskar, she shared about life post motherhood, balancing personal and professional life, facing criticism for being over-weight post pregnancy and much more.
Neha shared about having second thoughts about coming back to work for Roadies post-pregnancy.
“What I love the fact is that the makers didn’t have second thought on me. They supported me through all, and the fact is that, I am nursing my child every three hours. I have to be back to her in every 45 minutes; no matter where ever I am.
Initially, when I was not a mother, I couldn’t understand this art of multi-tasking.
But now, I feel that I deserve a medal (laughs). My daughter is little more than four months now; but believe me I haven’t got a proper sleep yet. But I am enjoying this phase of motherhood.”
She further added on how as a new mom, she is managing the stress.
“Mehr is a good kid. From travelling everywhere for the show’s auditions to then doing a road trip for a month; she has done everything. At times, I used to freak out as a mother while doing this road journey; but my daughter was enjoying it.
She is become a stress-buster for me especially while I am shooting for Roadies;
the situation can become very intense, very stressful. But when I go back to the room and I see my little daughter, my whole stress is gone. Honestly, it’s not easy to put down in words on how she is to me.”
Neha also shared how motherhood has changed her as a person.
“I have become lot more sensitive and emotional towards things post motherhood. I have started questioning lot of things mostly in emotional way. I value my days at work, and I value my days at home. I am just balancing everything.
In fact, I have started connecting to the contestants emotionally. There is one contestant who’s having body image issues. People called her weak because she was underweight.
At that time, I spoke to her and gave my example of how my body changed post-pregnancy.
I told her that I will take good 6-8 months before I get into my original shape. But you need to have confidence and move on. I am not weak or inferior just because I am carrying my pregnancy weight.”
Similar to strong new moms are raising voices against body shaming, Neha shared an incident when she was personally body shamed.
“Trolls don’t bother me but when a woman body-shames anyone, I make sure to shut them up.
Yes, I was once body-shamed by a female journalist and at that time, I made sure to shut her up too. I do want to address this as a larger problem because fat shaming needs to stop for everyone not just celebrities.
As a new mom I want to be fit, healthy and energetic for my daughter. So, I work out every day, sometimes twice a day because for me…
Fitness is a priority and not fitting into’ society’s standards regarding looks.
And I hope in the future people are kinder to each other while making such vapid and vile comments.”