Mumbai, Sep 10: Parineeti Chopra says motherhood has not limited the kind of roles coming her way, and credited both the film industry and audiences for allowing actors to continue pursuing their careers after becoming parents.
Chopra, who welcomed her first child, a baby boy, with her politician-husband Raghav Chadha in October last year, is making her acting comeback with the Netflix show “Shaque: Trust No One”, which marks her OTT series debut.
“I don’t think I’ve had a single conversation with a maker, director or writer, who has mentioned motherhood to me. I don’t remember anybody saying, ‘Now, that you’re a mom, this is what we’re offering you’ and that lack of association is the win.
“I would hate to stop working just because I became a mom. It’s a two-way relationship, I’ve to be offered work and I would be sad to lose work because I’ve done such a beautiful thing in producing a baby,” Chopra told reporters here at the trailer launch of her upcoming OTT series.
The actor, whose last film was 2024 biographical drama, “Amar Singh Chamkila”, thanked the audience for their changing mindset and attitudes towards working mothers in the movie industry.
“The audience is not cancelling mothers, and hence writers, directors and actors are able to make content. This business is not solitary; it is supply and demand with the audience. I’m glad the industry is changing and that the audience has made all this possible. So, it is all lovely and positive.”
Chopra hailed fellow actors Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone and her superstar sister Priyanka Chopra Jonas for continuing to work after embracing motherhood.
“It is sad that one generation had to pay that price because maybe at that audience was not excited to see mothers, I fail to understand that but that was the reality at some time,” she said.
“I’m so glad that our generation, including Alia (Bhatt), me, Deepika (Padukone), my own sister (Priyanka Chopra), who is working in the West, and all of us are able to be mothers and we are doing the same quality of work. In fact, I think we are doing better work now,” she added.
Chopra said motherhood hasn’t changed her career priorities and that balancing professional and personal life is even more important.
“I come to work, enjoy to the fullest and then I run back to my baby and I’m present 1000 per cent. There will be no difference in terms of the choice of roles or films that I’ll do because I want to be an actor and I don’t know want to change any rules and truth. I want to be the best version on screen for him,” she said.
For Chopra, motherhood is also about sharing parenting responsibilities with Chadha, rather than making it primarily as the mother’s responsibility.
“Today, I’m at work, so Raghav is with the baby and when Raghav is at work then I’m with the baby. In our case, we decided that it has to be 50-50. My baby has to see both parents and that’s how we try to do it every single day,” she said, adding that there is no single formula for parenting and that families make different choices depending on their circumstances.
Calling Chadha “the most protective father ever”, Chopra said he has been an equally supportive husband, taking care both of her wellbeing and career, particularly on days when she feels overwhelmed.
“Today, when I see all these changes around me and on days when I feel myself crumbling, I look at this person who becomes like a tiger and will put aside the whole world and will shout and fight for me, for my rest and well-being and my career.
“Sometimes when I want to be there and I’m confused, he says ‘No you go and do what you want to I will take care of things’.”
The actor revealed that she was pregnant while shooting “Shaque”, and thanked the makers for making the experience “easy, guilt free and healthy” for her.
“It is up to the people who are involved in the project. A healthy discussion between the two parties can make that experience positive,” Chopra said.
The mystery thriller, created by Rensil D’Silva and Siddharth P Malhotra, features Chopra in the lead role of a mother, in search of her missing child. D’Silva also directs the show.
“Shaque” also stars Soni Razdan, Anup Soni, Jennifer Winget, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Harleen Sethi, Dhruv Chowdhary, and Sumeet Vyas. It will premiere on Netflix on September 24. (PTI)
