Motherhood often changes the questions a woman asks herself. The decisions that once revolved around ambition, work or personal priorities can begin to include a much bigger consideration: What feels right for my child and my family?For actor Anushka Sharma, becoming a mother appears to have brought another, less-discussed shift- a stronger belief in her own judgment.
28 Jul 2026 | 16:26
Which parenting tip from elders actually worked for you?
In a 2023 conversation at a Puma event in Bengaluru, Sharma spoke about how motherhood had made her more confident, fearless and willing to make decisions that she may not have made earlier. Her comments came in the context of her decision to scale back her acting commitments so she could spend more time with her daughter, Vamika, whom she and cricketer Virat Kohli welcomed in January 2021.But perhaps the most striking part of what Sharma said was not about stepping away from films. It was about learning to trust yourself as a parent. “Motherhood has given me that because you have to trust yourself so much as a parent, as a mother,” she said, explaining that a parent is constantly making decisions for someone who is still very young and dependent.
“She needs me more”: recognising a child’s individual needs
Sharma’s decision to reduce her workload was also rooted in something very specific: her understanding of her daughter’s needs at that particular stage.Speaking about her family, she said she and Kohli had realised that Vamika needed more of her time. She also acknowledged that Kohli is an involved father, but felt that their daughter, at that age, needed her mother more. It is an important distinction.Parenting does not always mean dividing responsibilities into an exact 50:50 split. Children’s needs change as they grow. There may be phases when one parent becomes the child’s primary source of comfort, while at another stage the child may seek more independence or connect differently with the other parent.What works for one family may not work for another.For Sharma, recognising that difference seems to have helped her make a decision that suited her family rather than trying to maintain the pace of her pre-motherhood career simply because that was what she had always done. She said she wanted to limit herself to about one film a year, allowing herself to continue acting while also making time for her family.
Photos: Instagram/@anushkasharma
The pressure to prove you are doing enough
Modern parenting can come with an exhausting amount of comparison. Parents see other families making different choices and can quickly begin questioning their own. One child is attending multiple activities, another has a tightly structured routine, and someone else’s parent seems to have found the perfect balance between career and family. Social media can make this even more intense.Sharma spoke about reaching a point where she no longer wanted to seek validation from outside herself. She said she was satisfied with the way she was leading her life and wanted to make decisions that felt right to her. For parents, that can be a powerful lesson.There is a difference between seeking information and seeking approval. Asking experts, doctors, teachers or other parents for guidance can be valuable. But constantly looking for someone to confirm that you are a “good parent” can leave you second-guessing every choice.Children need parents who are responsive and thoughtful- not parents who are permanently anxious about getting everything right.
Motherhood can make you braver- but it can also make you more deliberate
Sharma described herself as braver and more fearless after becoming a mother. Her explanation was simple: when you are responsible for a child, you are forced to make decisions.That responsibility can be daunting, but it can also build confidence. A parent who once hesitated over difficult choices may eventually learn to say: This is what I believe is right for my child right now.That confidence does not have to look dramatic. Sometimes it means saying no to something that does not work for your family. Sometimes it means changing your mind after realising that a previous approach isn’t helping. Sometimes it means ignoring the pressure to follow what everyone else is doing. And sometimes, it simply means trusting your understanding of your own child.Ultimately, Sharma’s message is less about giving up something for motherhood and more about having the confidence to make choices that fit your own family. Because parenting inevitably involves uncertainty. You will make some decisions confidently, question others and occasionally realise you could have handled something differently.The goal, perhaps, isn’t to become a parent who never doubts themselves. It is to become a parent who can pause, understand their child, make the best decision they can- and trust themselves enough to keep learning along the way.
