Alia Bhatt Reflects on Life After Raha: Parenthood Brings ‘Fear and Nerves,’ Reveals She Hasn’t Attended Therapy in Two Months
Alia Bhatt Reflects on Life After Raha: Parenthood Brings 'Fear and Nerves,' Reveals She Hasn't Attended Therapy in Two Months
Alia Bhatt, one of Bollywood’s most prominent talents, is redefining the trajectory of women in Indian cinema, particularly after motherhood. Traditionally, actresses have been sidelined once they start families, often limited to supporting roles or playing characters much older than their actual age. However, Alia is at the forefront of challenging this outdated mindset. Soon after she and her husband Ranbir Kapoor welcomed their daughter, Raha, Alia jumped right back into work with Karan Johar’s hit film Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani. Now, she’s eagerly awaiting t
he release of her upcoming action-packed film Jigra, set to hit theaters on October 11, 2024.
In a recent interview with Allure magazine, Alia opened up about the challenges of balancing motherhood and her demanding career. Speaking candidly, she shared, “How do I ping-pong between the two and do them well, but also find a way to carve out time for myself, which I’m not able to do. I’ll be very candid right now—there’s no such thing as me time. I’ve not even been able to get a therapy session for the last two months.” Despite the hustle, Alia is deeply invested in her daughter, describing Raha as “naughty, chatty, and sometimes shy. She’s truly her own person, but she’s very bright.” This new chapter has brought a mix of fulfillment and emotional highs, alongside the constant pressure to ‘do it right.’ “Your soul is sort of fulfilled, but you are also always full of fear and nerves because of just wanting to do it right and wanting to do it well,” she confessed.
Drawing from her parents’ advice, Alia reflected on the philosophy of parenthood. “Children come through you. They’re yours, you are a catalyst, you are a source for their life, but their life is not yours. Their life is theirs, and you just need to give them the tools to deal with their life.” This approach contrasts with the helicopter parenting often seen in Indian households, emphasizing a child’s independence while providing them the support they need.
On the work front, alongside Jigra, Alia is currently shooting for Alpha, the seventh installment in the YRF spy universe, where she stars alongside Sharvari Wagh. In addition to this, Alia is gearing up for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War, which will feature Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, with the first schedule starting later this month.
Balancing the fast-paced demands of her profession while being a mother is no small feat, but Alia Bhatt is proving that women can excel in both realms, all while challenging the norms that have traditionally defined a heroine’s ‘shelf life’ in Indian cinema.
