‘It’s great for mothers to go out and work’

It goes without saying that motherhood starts a new chapter in a woman’s life. That holds true for Rani Mukerji, too. “As they say, ‘When you become a mother, your child gives birth to you — as a mother. Being a mom, I’m learning every day and I’m sure my daughter will teach me much more about motherhood. It all depends on her,” says Rani, who gave birth to her daughter, Adira, in 2015.

The actor, who was last seen in Mardaani (2014), believes that it’s “great for mothers to go out and work”. She adds, “Your child should know you as an independent mother and respect you [for that] — not just for being a mother who looks after them but also for being independent enough to go out there in the world and work.” Rani, whose next film, Hichki, hits screens next year, feels that a “child starts respecting work in a strange way because they see their mother and father work”. The children then understand that work matters, adds the actor.

“It’s a very positive way of raising a child,” says Rani, who is married to Bollywood filmmaker Aditya Chopra. She adds, “I also love being a fulltime mother, which I have enjoyed in the past two years. But I think it’s time for me to get back to work.”

Rani Mukerji’s daughter, Adira, is just under two years old