Anita Hassanandani, a well-known face in the television world, is back on screen after a long break of nearly five years. She took this time off to focus on her new role as a mother to her son, Aarav, who was born in 2021. The actress, who became a household name with iconic roles in shows like Yeh Hai Mohabbatein and Naagin, is now returning with the TV serial Suman Indori. In an exclusive chat, Anita opens up about the challenges of balancing motherhood and her career, the guilt that comes with leaving her son for work, and how everything changes after becoming a mother.
Mom Guilt and Career Aspirations: The Constant Battle
Anita Hassanandani candidly shared that the “mom guilt” of leaving her son behind while going to work is something that never truly goes away. However, as a woman who also loves her career, Anita knew that she wanted to come back to acting. “There will always be mom guilt of leaving my son and going for shooting, but I also love my career,” Anita admits. The actress explains that while motherhood has changed her priorities, her passion for acting has not dimmed. “I want to move forward in my career too, and when Aarav grows up, I hope he’ll be proud of the work I have done.”
Conflicted About Returning to Work: A Mother’s Dilemma
After giving birth to Aarav, Anita had a mixed experience regarding her return to work. She shared how she felt both happy and conflicted about not working during her break. “It was a mixed feeling,” she recalls. “Sometimes I felt good that I was able to give full time to my child. Then there were times when I questioned myself and wondered what I was doing with my life.” Like many working mothers, Anita faced the internal conflict of balancing career aspirations with the joys of motherhood.
The actress also mentioned that as her son Aarav approached the age of four, she began to feel more confident about returning to work. “Now, Aarav can talk and express himself. I can FaceTime him four to five times a day, and if someone scolds him, he can tell me about it.” This newfound confidence gave her the strength to re-enter the acting world, knowing that Aarav was growing and beginning to understand her work commitments.
The Return to Television: Playing a Negative Role Again
Anita Hassanandani’s return to the small screen comes with the negative role of Devika in Suman Indori. Having played negative roles before, most notably Shagun in Yeh Hai Mohabbatein and Vishakha in Naagin, Anita acknowledges the typecasting that exists in the television industry. “Once you play a negative role, it’s tough to convince people that you can play other characters,” Anita says about the challenges of breaking the image she has built over the years. She explains how the industry tends to pigeonhole actors into certain roles based on previous performances. “Here, once it gets into the mind that you do negative roles well, you fit into it, and you keep getting similar roles.”
Why ‘Suman Indori’ Excited Anita: A Strong and Performance-Oriented Role
Despite being typecast in negative roles, Anita is excited about her role in Suman Indori. While it is another negative role, the character of Devika is complex, strong, and performance-oriented, which was one of the key reasons Anita decided to take up the part. “This role is strong and performance-oriented, so it’s exciting for me,” she says. After taking such a long break, Anita feels lucky to have been offered such a powerful character for her comeback. “It’s not easy to get such a comeback after five years in TV, so I consider myself very fortunate.”
Balancing Work and Family: A New Normal
Now that Anita has returned to the hectic schedule of shooting, she has established a routine that allows her to balance her professional and personal life. She shared that she talks to her son Aarav every day before leaving for work and ensures that he is with either her mother or husband. “I talk to Aarav and explain that I am going to work and will return in the evening. He has started understanding, but I still FaceTime him several times a day to check in.” The support system she has in place helps her manage her responsibilities at home while focusing on her career.
Aarav’s Reaction to Seeing His Mom on Screen
While Aarav understands that his mom is an actor, Anita shared that she is careful about what she shows him. “I show him only normal promos,” she says. In a recent scene where mud splashes on her face, Aarav began crying, which made Anita more cautious about what content she lets him watch. “He knows I am an actor, but I try to protect him from seeing me in certain situations that might upset him.”
Is Television Typecasting an Issue? Anita Shares Her View
Anita candidly spoke about the typecasting problem in Indian television. “TV has this mindset,” she explains. “Once you play a negative role, it’s tough for the makers to see you in any other light. It’s not that I can’t do different roles, but people get used to seeing you a certain way, and it’s difficult to break that image.” Despite the challenges, Anita believes that her strong and performance-driven role in Suman Indori will show another side of her acting skills.
The Reality of Joint Family Life: Sister-in-Law Rivalries
One of the central themes of Suman Indori revolves around the rivalry between sisters-in-law. Anita shared her thoughts on this aspect of the show, noting that “this is the reality of many households.” She explains that the show portrays the everyday tensions that arise in joint families, especially between sisters-in-law, but she doesn’t believe it reinforces any regressive ideas. “This isn’t about whether it’s progressive or regressive. It’s just the truth of life. Even mothers and daughters fight at times.” According to Anita, the show reflects the complexities of family relationships, especially in joint families.
Looking Forward: What’s Next for Anita?
As Anita Hassanandani steps back into the acting world, her fans are eager to see what’s next for the talented actress. Balancing motherhood and career is no easy feat, but Anita is embracing this new chapter in her life with grace and determination. “Once you become a mother, everything changes,” she says, but for Anita, the journey of being a working mom is just as fulfilling as it is challenging. With her strong comeback role in Suman Indori, Anita is ready to take on new opportunities while continuing to be a loving and dedicated mother to her son Aarav.
