Mothers, the Silent Pillars: ‘We are who we are today because of our mothers' love & sacrifices'

Time of India

13-05-2025

Their mothers never sought the spotlight, but their influence runs deep. This Mother's Day,
Tollywood
celebs reflect on how their mothers' everyday acts of care, sacrifice, and quiet encouragement have profoundly shaped their lives and careers.
'My mother's struggles inspired the character of Chitra in
Pelli Choopulu
'
'As a kid, I remember my mom choosing to walk miles just to save money. My mom, who was initially a homemaker, began working as a teacher with my dad's encouragement. She played a dual role — both a housewife and a teacher. She always supported my artistic side and gave me whatever I needed to express myself. She never said it out loud, but I soon realised that things were financially tough at home during my childhood. Watching all of that deeply impacted me — it inspired me to write the character of Chitra in Pelli Choopulu.'
—
Tharun Bhascker
, actor-director-writer Dhaassyam
Sangeeth Shobhan with his mother Soujanya Shoban
'Everything I know about life and the industry, I learned from my mom'
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'I lost my father at a very young age, so I didn't have enough time with him to understand how he could have shaped me. It was my mother who guided me. She taught me about life — that when you're successful, you have value, and when you're not, nobody cares, especially in the film industry. Everything I've learned about life and the industry, I owe to my mom. When I think of family, it's always her and my brother.'
—
Sangeeth Shobhan
, actor
Neerraja Kona's with her mother Rama Kona
'Her constant belief in me gave me the confidence to follow my dreams'
'I think I began to truly understand the meaning of
motherhood
as I grew older. She and my dad had their share of struggles to keep things going at home, even when it wasn't easy. But she always put me and my brother first. Her constant belief in me gave me the confidence to follow my dreams — whether as a stylist, director, or writer. I just want to say thank you, and I love you.'
— Neerraja Kona, celebrity stylist and director.
Nabha Natesh with her mother Bhagyalakshmi Natesh
'My mother has always my biggest cheerleader'
'Even as a homemaker, my mom always had a strong voice and stood by her beliefs. Growing up in Sringeri, Karnataka, where there were no theaters, I'd look forward to visiting my grandmother in Bhadravati, where mom would take me to the movies — those are some of my favourite childhood memories. She's always been my biggest cheerleader, encouraging me to pursue art even though I studied engineering. Today, we're more like friends — we do yoga, watch films together, and her perspective always helps me see things more clearly.' — Nabha Natesh, actress
– Divya Shree
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