Sushmita Sen has opened up about the criticism and professional backlash she faced after adopting her elder daughter Renee at the age of 24, revealing that even her manager left her during that period.
Speaking in an interview, Sushmita recalled how parts of the film industry doubted her future as a leading actor after she embraced single motherhood at the peak of her career.
The actor said that her decision to adopt Renee in 2000 was met with scepticism from several people around her, many of whom believed motherhood would negatively impact her professional journey.
Recalling the moment, Sushmita said, “My manager ran away,” while speaking about the reactions she received after becoming a mother.
According to the actor, her manager had told her, “You’re not serious about your career, and I can’t represent someone who’s a mother at 24.”
Sushmita also revealed that she was warned she would stop getting lead roles in films and would eventually be pushed into “character roles” because of her decision to adopt a child as a single woman.
However, the actor said motherhood became her greatest strength rather than a professional setback.
“After I became a mother, I gave my biggest hits,” Sushmita said during the interview.
Following Renee’s adoption, Sushmita went on to star in several successful films including Aankhen, Main Hoon Na and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya. Years later, she also received widespread praise for her performances in the OTT series Aarya and the biographical drama Taali.
Motherhood, she said, continues to remain the centre of her life. In 2010, Sushmita adopted her second daughter, Alisah, whom she has often described as completing her “beautiful little universe.”
Both Renee and Alisah frequently accompany the actor at public events and feature in her social media posts. Renee, who has also entered the entertainment industry, has spoken about how her mother raised her to remain fearless, independent, and grounded.
Sushmita Sen, who made history as the first Indian woman to win the Miss Universe 1994 title, said the criticism she faced never changed her decisions or priorities.
Her story continues to resonate with many fans online, with social media users praising her courage, independence, and refusal to compromise motherhood for career expectations.
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