Next Story
Newszop

Pregnancy before marriage led to 'Ye kaise ho gaya' chatter: Bollywood actress narrates questions after first baby birth

Send Push
Pregnancy before marriage has long been a subject of public debate in India, especially when it involves celebrities. Social media chatter and societal judgment often overshadow the personal milestones of women in the spotlight. Actor Neha Dhupia recently addressed this issue, recalling the criticism she faced after her first pregnancy and how it shaped her journey into motherhood.

Dhupia revealed in an interview with Mid-Day that when she found out she was expecting, she and actor Angad Bedi decided to marry. Six months later, they welcomed their daughter, Mehr. However, instead of celebration, conversations around their wedding were clouded by judgment. She remembered people repeatedly asking how her baby arrived in such a short span of time, with many saying in disbelief, “Ye kaise ho gaya?”

Comparisons With Other Actresses
Dhupia pointed out that she was not the first actor to be trolled for this reason. She said she often comes across stories and tags about female stars who became pregnant before marriage and now finds herself mentioned in the same breath as Neena Gupta and Alia Bhatt. Calling the commentary “ridiculous,” she emphasised that no one has the right to dictate when a woman should marry or have a child. For her, pregnancy is simply a beautiful experience that needs no further explanation.

The negativity surrounding her pregnancy became the spark behind her initiative Freedom to Feed. Through the platform, Dhupia promotes stigma-free conversations around motherhood, including breastfeeding, postpartum recovery, and the challenges women face during and after pregnancy. She explained that these subjects should not be hidden away as taboo, and women deserve safe spaces to share their experiences. Dhupia added that even if she continues to face trolling for raising these issues, she has no intention of stopping.

In addition to the criticism, Dhupia also struggled with professional setbacks. Speaking to Pinkvilla, she revealed that she was dropped from projects after being told her appearance would not suit filming schedules. She later discovered that the same shoots went ahead without her knowledge. In another interview with Filmfare, she shared how several designer friends declined to provide her outfits because of her postpartum weight, which she described as disheartening.

Personal Journey Into Motherhood
Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi tied the knot in a private Gurudwara ceremony on May 10, 2018. Their daughter, Mehr, was born later that year on November 18, and in 2021 the couple welcomed their son, Guriq.

Despite facing judgment and rejection, Dhupia said she chose to confront the criticism with resilience and humour. For her, motherhood became not only a personal milestone but also the foundation for advocating greater freedom and acceptance for women’s choices.
Loving Newspoint? Download the app now