‘Women can have it all, and they don’t need have career apprehensions when starting a family’

Actor-model Lisa Haydon, who became a mother in May 2017, says having a child opened her eyes to a whole new world and way of life. She adds that now is the time when women don’t need to have career apprehensions about starting a family.

“I knew I wasn’t going to have to choose one or the other. Sure, having a kid opened my eyes to a whole new world and way of living and one’s priorities may change. But it’s up to each individual and what they want to make of it,” she says.

“I was filming a web series till I was five months pregnant. I did the cover of a magazine with Hrithik (Roshan) when I was four months pregnant... I believe that we are finally arriving at a place where women don’t need to have career apprehensions towards starting a family. You can have it all. You might have to run a tight ship and have the occasional meltdown but it’s all good,” says Lisa.

She welcomed her first child, son Zack Lalvani, with husband Dino Lalvani.

Lisa, who made her acting debut with a supporting role in the 2010 film Aisha and has featured in Housefull 3 (2016), was also appreciated for her role in films such as Queen (2014) and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016).

From being a model and actor to a mother, Lisa says that having a child emphasises the need for schedules and organisation. “It also becomes quite natural to pick and choose what is most important and then make time only for that as the stakes are higher,” said Lisa who also says one realisation that dawned on her after her pregnancy is that “pancakes taste best with a squeeze of lemon and powdered sugar”.

Now that she is back to work and Zack is still little, Lisa says the balance has been working out nicely.

“I love being at work and have also noticed he also values my presence a bit more when I return home after being away on a work trip,” says Lisa, who also feels that today women are accepted regardless of marital status and motherhood, especially in the modelling industry. “It’s actually a very special time and feeling,” she adds.

I think the change is already here. I also had a different impression of parenthood till I became one and realised I can still look the same and feel better than before.

LISA HAYDON ACTOR

Actor-model Lisa Haydon with her son Zack Lalvani