Begin again

For Anushka Sharma, motherhood has allowed her to dissolve and expand at the same time. Here, she opens up about her post-partum body and how she's confronted constructed notions of what it is to be beautiful

- TANYA MEHTA

Among the many lessons and revelations that the pandemic has imparted, ‘living in the moment' is probably a universal mandate most of us are trying to embrace. But when we picture the life of a top-tier Bollywood celebrity, 'slowing down' isn't a part of their daily diction, especially if we're talking about a multi-hyphenate like Anushka Sharma. However, the actor, producer, and new mother is enjoying the wonderful chaos that this chapter in her life encapsulates. Raising an infant comes with its fair share of sleepless nights and tantrums, and while Sharma is eager to give this fresh phase all her attention, when I check in to ask how she's doing, she says, “I used to be somebody who loved to plan and prepare everything in life, but when you're thrown curve-balls, you just have to take things as they come. You can't plan too far ahead with a baby. I've also learnt that taking care of my mind is now a 24/7 job – I'm constantly mindful of my thoughts, not engaging in those that don't serve me. I'm simplifying myself; I want to be present.”

A NEW ROLE