Even after so many years of her debut, actor Mahima Chaudhary is still called the Pardes girl. But a lot has happened in her life since then.
In 2006, Chaudhary met architect Bobby Mukherjee in the US and married him and within one year she embraced motherhood.
"Giving birth is like running a nation"
At the time, the 33-year-old said that her daughter had given her a different kind of joy and it was nothing like she had ever seen.
"This is really a big deal. I know every woman who goes through pregnancy doesn’t make a big deal out of her delivery. For most, it’s just another effortless job. But it isn’t, really. Giving birth is like running a nation! And women who go through it, are truly angels. Today my respect for them has gone up. This is undoubtedly my biggest achievement. The Bollywood rat race, the glamour of my job, everything is insignificant when compared to this joy," she shared at the time of daughter Ariana's birth.
"I was a single mother and had to earn money"
But just like any new mum, Chaudhary had a lot planned for her daughter and her marriage, however, things did not plan out as she intended them to. She separated from her husband in 2013 and had to settle for small roles just to earn a buck.
"I was a single mother and had to earn money. With a child, it was difficult to take up films, as it would have consumed a lot of time. I started judging a few television shows, making appearances at functions or cutting ribbons because it was convenient for me. It also gave me quick and good money. Now, when I look back, I feel those assignments ruined me as an actress,” she told a daily last year.
Today, her daughter Ariana is all grown up at 10-years and is the centre of her mum's universe.
"She is very cute and every day, she is learning one new thing"
The adorable girl looks quite like her single mum and isn't afraid to pose for photographs.
In fact, Chaudhary recently admitted that her daughter is not only growing up into a beautiful girl at heart, but is also pushing her to learn new things as well.
"She is very cute and every day, she is learning one new thing. I would like to enjoy her learning new words everyday. After the marriage, I started cooking. Now, motherhood has made me crazier about cooking. I"m getting more and more acquainted with the kitchen stuffs, especially preparing nutrition food for my baby," shared the Dil Kya Kare actor.
The mother-daughter duo now live in Mumbai and it's quite clear that Chaudhary's world revolves around her cute daughter.
But we all know how difficult it is to be a single mother in India and how much work it takes to help kids settle into their new life. However, it can be done with patience and a bit of work. Here's our recommendation on easing a divorce on to a young child.
- Talk openly with your children: Let them know you still care about them and that they're not being replaced or forgotten. Invite them to express their thoughts and emotions, and be open to making changes in how you handle the transition.
- Empathise with their feelings: Regardless of your children's ages, remarriage and divorce evokes strong feelings that they may not understand or be able to communicate. Children see remarriage as a loss — often at the end of a string of losses. Validate your children's feelings by listening to and acknowledging their concerns.
- Allow children to take time to adjust: While children may eventually embrace the new relationships, few do so at first. Be sensitive to this need for time to adjust. Do not force children to accept the situation. You can, however, expect them to be courteous and respectful.
Read: Single mum Malaika takes a crucial life decision post divorce from Arbaaz Khan!
(All images courtesy: Instagram)
