Returning to work after becoming a mother can come with a new set of challenges, even for actors who have spent years balancing demanding careers. Parineeti Chopra recently opened up about the intense ‘mom guilt’ she experienced when she had to leave her son, Neer, for work. In an interview with India Today, the actor described the experience as “crazy” and said leaving her baby for the first time left her in what she called “crippling physical pain”.
Parineeti Chopra talks about mom guilt
Describing the experience as “crippling physical pain”, Parineeti recalled the first time she had to leave her son after spending months with him following his birth. She said, “I remember the very first time that I had to leave my baby, and this was after many, many months of postpartum, being at home 24/7, day and night. When I left him for the first time, I don’t remember that flight to Bombay. I don’t remember it. I don’t know when I walked through the airport, boarded the flight, landed, reached home. I have no memory. I was only sobbing for three hours.”
She added, “I thought I would never be able to work again. I would never be able to do anything again. It’s not guilt. It’s crippling physical pain that you feel leaving your baby. The baby’s fine. They’re nothing to do with your absence. The family’s fine. Everybody’s having a blast.”
Parineeti said the pressure surrounding motherhood is both biological and rooted in societal expectations. She recalled women asking her where her baby was whenever she was out working, saying such questions reflect the expectation that mothers should put their professional or personal lives on hold. Parineeti questioned why women cannot return to a normal life after having a child.
About Parineeti Chopra’s first child
Parineeti and Raghav Chadha got married in September 2023 at The Leela Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan. In October last year, the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Neer. Parineeti revealed that she found out about her pregnancy while shooting for her series Shaque: Trust No One, calling it her son’s debut as well.
About Parineeti Chopra’s recent release
Helmed by Rensil D’Silva and produced by Siddharth P Malhotra and Sapna Malhotra under Alchemy Productions, Shaque: Trust No One marks Parineeti’s web series debut. Released on September 24 to mixed reviews, the series also stars Jennifer Winget, Soni Razdan, Anup Soni, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Sumeet Vyas, Harleen Sethi and Dhruv Choudhry.
The seven-episode series follows Anvita, a mother whose newborn daughter goes missing from a hospital. Nine years later, she continues searching for her child as mysterious clues force her to question the people closest to her and even her own perception of reality. The series is available to watch on Netflix.