Sakshi Tanwar, the beloved bahu of the TV world, has reigned supreme in the industry for 23 years and starred alongside Aamir Khan in Dangal, one of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters released in 2016. The film set box office records that remain unbroken. On the personal front, Sakshi lives as a single mother, having adopted Dityaa Tanwar, a nine-month-old girl, in 2018. In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, the actress, who stars in Tahira Kashyap’s directorial debut, Sharmajee Ki Beti, opened up on juggling her dreams and raising her daughter as a single mother.
Talking of walking the tightrope of being a “good mother” and her career aspirations, Tanwar said, “I think all of us are trying to achieve that balance, which is the biggest challenge women face because of society’s expectations and our own dreams and aspirations. In the middle of all that is your child – who wants your attention and has his own set of expectations from you. As a parent, you are constantly trying to achieve that balance. Fortunately for me, I am not a typical working mom because my work is not a daily 9-to-5 job. I don’t have to wake up in the morning, go to work, and come back in the evening. I can plan my shoots as per requirements, and I’m only shooting 50 to 65 days of the year. I can manage my time because parenting is a full-time job, and you don’t have any excuse for not being there.”
Tanwar said that her family has been incredibly supportive in helping her raise her daughter. “If you have to be there with the child, you’ve got to be there. I have been lucky that when I was shooting, my family stepped in and was very supportive. My bhabhi, my sister, and my daughter took care of my child. It’s very difficult to strike that balance, and it’s the most challenging thing to have a balance between your own aspirations and time with your child. Every day is a new lesson and a new challenge. When the child is throwing a tantrum, there is no manual or support system to guide you. You just handle it however you can. It is challenging.”
Sakshi Tanwar started her television career in 1998 with Albela Sur Mela. Still, her big break came in 2000 when she portrayed Parvati Agarwal in Ekta Kapoor’s hit show Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, which made her a household name. From 2011 to 2014, she captured audiences once more as Priya Kapoor opposite Ram Kapoor in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain.
