As the spotlight intensifies on the challenges working women face while starting or expanding their families—especially after reports of Deepika Padukone’s exit from Spirit due to parental leave requests—actor Gauahar Khan has shared a deeply personal story of strength and resilience. Speaking candidly on Debina Bonnerjee’s podcast, Gauahar opened up about experiencing a miscarriage before the birth of her son Zehaan, balancing action-packed shoots during pregnancy, and embracing motherhood again at 39.
Journey of Heartbreak and Hope
The actress recently opened up about her emotional journey to motherhood during a conversation with Debina Bonnerjee on her podcast. The actor, who is currently expecting her second child, reflected on the highs and lows she has experienced—including a heartbreaking miscarriage before the birth of her son Zehaan.She shared that while she always dreamed of having multiple children, the loss of her first pregnancy took a significant emotional toll. After getting married at 36, Gauahar and her husband had planned to start trying for a baby within a year. But the unexpected miscarriage delayed their plans and took nearly a year and a half for her to recover—both physically and emotionally—before she could try again.
Welcoming Zehaan
Fortunately, her next pregnancy with Zehaan went smoothly. Now at 39, she said she felt it was the right moment to expand her family once more. Given her age, she admitted this pregnancy felt like a “now or never” decision, emphasizing how deeply grateful she is to be able to conceive again.
Working Through Pregnancy
When asked how she managed her professional commitments while navigating such a deeply personal journey, Gauahar Khan revealed that she never took a break from work—even during her pregnancies. She shared that she was actively working throughout her first pregnancy and even during the early months of both pregnancies, she was shooting physically demanding action sequences.Recalling a recent example, Gauahar said she was filming the finale of Fauji 2 in Pune while performing high-intensity scenes involving explosions. Despite being pregnant, she remained committed to her responsibilities as an actor, stressing that professionalism is a top priority for her. Thankfully, she noted, her action directors were extremely understanding and adapted scenes accordingly to ensure her safety.She also revealed that just a month before experiencing her miscarriage, she had been working on another action-heavy role, further highlighting her relentless dedication to her craft even in the most challenging times.
Emotional Patterns and Physical Demands
The actress also reflected on the emotional link between her pregnancies and her demanding work schedule. She revealed that while filming Shiksha Mandal, she was pregnant with her first child and still took on intense action sequences, including horse riding. Sadly, just a month after wrapping those scenes, she suffered a miscarriage.She noted the strange coincidence that each time she has been pregnant, she has found herself doing action roles and performing physically challenging scenes, adding an unexpected emotional weight to those experiences.
