Known for always speaking her mind, actress Swara Bhasker is currently seen in *Pati Patni Aur Panga* alongside her husband Fahad Ahmad. In this candid conversation, she opens up about being judged as a new mother, Bollywood’s biases, facing trolling, and her political voice. Excerpts:
**Every time a working mother takes a bold step, society calls it “selfish.” Have you faced that judgment after joining *Pati Patni Aur Panga* with Fahad Ahmad?**
Women get judged for whatever choice they make. If they return to work soon after giving birth, they are labeled selfish or bad mothers. If they take a break, they are judged for being lazy or taking it too easy.
“I’ve been trolled and fat-shamed for putting on weight postpartum, for not losing it fast enough, for not ‘bouncing back’ right after delivery, and for choosing to take a break and be with my baby,” Swara shares. “Nasty memes had my before and after pictures, comparing my size and titling it ‘What did she eat?’ It’s cruel and initially it hurt because I was a new mom, but now I am used to it.”
She adds, “It’s a sad reflection of how utterly foolish, petty, and misogynistic our society is – the fact that women can never win no matter what they do. It’s a toxic trait to make cruel judgments on anyone, especially new moms, and frankly, it’s nobody’s business how people live their lives.”
Swara says she mostly ignores the trolls but sometimes chooses to call them out because “such rubbish discourse should be challenged.”
**Actresses are often told that after becoming mothers, their “market value” in Bollywood drops. Do you think the industry is still biased against mothers?**
Swara believes that society finds women undesirable after motherhood, but she also feels that values are changing.
“In contemporary times, one of the mainstream female actresses to have led that change is Kareena Kapoor,” she explains. “She worked until the last week of her pregnancy and was shooting for *Veere Di Wedding* nine months after delivery. I think that has helped change attitudes, and now it’s normal for mainstream Bollywood actresses to be back at work after becoming moms.”
Swara also recalls trailblazers like legendary star Nutan ji, who returned to work after having her baby in 1963 and continued acting till the 1980s. “She was the original trailblazer for actresses working after motherhood.”
**Actresses are asked if they’ll ever make a “comeback” after giving birth. How do you feel about that?**
“I get a lot of comments and questions about when I will be back on screen, and whether I will ever work again,” Swara admits. “A lot of fans say they miss me on screen, which is sweet and flattering; but I do feel pressured sometimes about getting back to work.”
She confesses, “I feel guilty for taking this break to be with my baby. I spend a lot of mental time fighting off that pressure and telling myself I’ve worked for 15-16 years and it’s okay to take this time out and be a full-time mom.”
**Critics say your social media persona became bigger than your filmography. Do you regret that in hindsight?**
Swara does not see it as a regret. “It is true that my social media has given me a larger profile beyond my films but I don’t think that is a bad thing.”
She explains, “The idea that actors should not have any opinions or a personality outside of the screen is stifling for actors as humans, and I cannot operate like that. I’m an authentic person, and for good or bad that’s how it is.”
Swara acknowledges, “I’ve been punished for my frank opinions and earned the tag of being ‘controversial’ but that’s also a sign of how intolerant our society and politics have become.”
**Do you see your return to acting on OTT or big screens?**
“It’s not about reclaiming anything,” she says. “I’d like to work in projects that are fulfilling and do roles that are challenging and gratifying for me as an artist, that fuel my craft and creative growth. The medium of distribution is not that important for me.”
Swara expresses a desire to “stop being punished for my political opinions.” She adds, “*Pati Patni Aur Panga* has given me the perfect platform to take slow steps back to work at my own pace.”
**If a top filmmaker came to you today and said, ‘We’ll cast you, but keep your politics out of it,’ would you accept the role?**
Swara interprets that as a request “to not make political statements or comment on current affairs for the duration of the shoot and making of the film and till the release.”
“Because the atmosphere today is so polarized and vitiated by those in power, and because dissenting opinions are criminalized and punished, silence is the only way to keep working,” she explains.
“I’ve already paid the price for my opinions by unofficially but effectively being blacklisted by makers; the question is for how long will I have to keep paying this price?”
**The narrative around actresses is often: ‘She’s a mother now, will she still do bold roles?’ Do you think motherhood should change the kind of characters you’re offered?**
Swara believes, “It’s not a question of should or shouldn’t – it’s about what happens.”
She feels strongly that “women should do what they feel comfortable with. Many actresses may not want to do intimate scenes after marriage and motherhood, and that’s a choice that should be respected. It doesn’t make them lesser artists.”
An actor “has a life before ‘action’ and after ‘cut’ and they must choose how to balance both worlds according to their choice and comfort.”
Personally, Swara says she “hasn’t thought of this and will cross that bridge when I come to it.”
**Your daughter is growing up in a household where one parent gets trolled for her opinions, and the other gets trolled for his. Do you ever discuss how to shield her from this climate?**
“My daughter is not two years old yet, so obviously we shield her from anything unpleasant and also from media exposure,” Swara shares.
“But she has to grow up in this world, and she will have to face the reality of this world,” she adds. “I hope we instill values in her and give her enough love and safety in her early years so that she grows up to be a kind, courageous, and resilient person.”
**Faceless trolls target you daily on social media. Does Fahad ever get upset because of these reasons?**
“All the time,” Swara laughs. “Earlier, only my brother and PR managers would say these things. Now, Fahad has joined them too.”
She acknowledges, “I know it comes from a place of concern and a desire to protect me. I’m an impulsive and impractical person but I do take principled positions.”
“My loved ones and family know better than anyone else the cost of speaking out that I’ve had to bear. Their fears are totally understandable,” she notes.
Adding to that, Swara explains, “Fahad is a politician and politics is an even more perception-sensitive field than films. So, of course, we’ve often argued about my tweets and public statements, but we try to understand each other’s perspective.”
“Also, our basic values are the same, so we know we are on the same team ultimately.”
https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/swara-bhasker-id-like-to-stop-being-punished-for-my-political-opinions-exclusive