Parineeti Chopra: ‘It’s crippling physical pain that you feel leaving your baby’: Parineeti Chopra recalls crying throughout her first work trip; says ‘mom guilt is crazy’ | Hindi Movie News

Bollywood actor Parineeti Chopra has opened up about the difficult experience of being away from her baby for the first time after childbirth. The actress recalled the emotional impact of resuming professional commitments after months at home.She said the separation was particularly overwhelming because she had spent months with her son throughout the day and night. The first work trip away from him remains difficult for her to recall clearly.Talking to India Today, Parineeti Chopra described the circumstances surrounding that first journey. She said it happened after many months of staying at home following childbirth.“The very first time that I had to leave my baby, and this was after many, many months of postpartum, being at home 24/7, day and night.”

‘I was only sobbing for 3 hours’

Parineeti Chopra said she remembers very little about the actual journey. The actress said her emotions were so overwhelming that she has no clear memory of travelling to Bombay.“When I left him for the first time, I don’t remember that flight to Bombay. I don’t remember it. I don’t know when I walked through the airport, boarded the flight, landed, reached home. I have no memory. I was only sobbing for three hours,” she said. The experience also made Parineeti Chopra wonder whether she would be able to return to work. She said what she felt was much more intense than conventional guilt.“I thought I would never be able to work again. I would never be able to do anything again. It’s not guilt. It’s crippling physical pain that you feel leaving your baby,” she said.

Parineeti Chopra opens up about ‘mom guilt’

The actress said her concerns remained even though she knew her baby was safe with the family. “The baby’s fine. They’re nothing to do with your absence. The family’s fine. Everybody’s having a blast,” she said.Parineeti Chopra added that her family would even tell her that she could stay away for a little longer. Yet, the reassurance did not completely ease the emotions she experienced. “But the mom guilt is crazy,” she said.She also reflected on why mothers experience such feelings. According to Parineeti Chopra, the pressure comes from both biology and society. “I think it’s, of course, biological, but it’s also societal,” Parineeti said.

Actress questions pressure on working mothers

Parineeti Chopra also spoke about the reactions working mothers can receive when they return to their careers. She said women are often questioned about their children when they step out for professional commitments.“There are a lot of women who will come up to me and say, ‘So, where’s your baby?’ And I’m like, ‘He’s at home.’ And that’s just not allowed,” she said.The actress questioned the expectation that motherhood should prevent women from continuing their careers. She described the kind of criticism mothers can face for spending time away from their children.“How can you be out here working when your baby’s trying to fend for himself? It’s so sad that we cannot apparently live a normal life again once we have a baby,” Parineeti added.

Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha’s approach to parenthood

Parineeti Chopra said she and Raghav Chadha are making a deliberate effort to approach parenthood differently. She hopes their experience can offer another perspective to people navigating similar situations.“I think Raghav and I are making a very conscious effort to change that narrative, and we want to be an example to anybody who would like to take from our journey.”The actress also believes that mom guilt is not something that necessarily disappears with age.“I don’t think that mom guilt is emotional. It will never go. Even when I’m 90 years old, my mom will ask me, ‘Have you eaten today?’ That will never end, and I will never let it end.”Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha married on September 24, 2023, and they welcomed their baby boy on October 19, 2025.On the work front, Parineeti Chopra was last seen in the biographical musical drama ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, which received good reviews.