When Aishwarya Rai Bachchan shared her views on balancing marriage and career: ‘Don't think you need to remain single for that'; psychotherapist shares tips
During an earlier episode of the talk show Koffee with Karan, Aishwarya reflected on the early days of her marriage, sharing how she and Abhishek tied the knot within a year of coming together. Dismissing the outdated belief that marriage hinders a woman's career, she passionately voiced her opinion: 'I don't agree with this when people say that 'marriage not yet', I want to focus on my career. I don't agree with that. You can handle both. Everybody can handle both. You're here as an actor to enjoy your craft, put out good work, do kick-ass work, and get that noticed. I don't think you need to remain single for that.'
While this is a valid concern in a person's mind that their marriage and associated responsibilities might replace the importance they give to their career, what most people are afraid of is losing that spark, the palpable chemistry they share with their partner, while juggling responsibilities — especially if the career is demanding and children are a part of the equation.
Sonal Khangarot, licensed rehabilitation counsellor and psychotherapist, The Answer Room, told indianexpress.com that experiencing burnout in such cases is quite common, and early signs of emotional or physical burnout in high-performing professionals often show up in subtle yet persistent ways. Emotional exhaustion is one of the first red flags—feeling chronically drained, detached, or numb even when there's no obvious trigger.
Khangarot explained, 'When time together is scarce due to work and travel, emotional intimacy doesn't have to suffer—it just needs to evolve. The key is intentionality. Even brief moments can be powerful when they're mindful and emotionally attuned.'
A 5-minute call or voice note every day just to ask, 'How are you feeling today?'—not just 'How was your day?'—can create a thread of emotional closeness. Whether it's a good morning text, a shared playlist, or a virtual coffee on video, these little rituals become anchors in a busy life.
'When you're apart, don't just share logistics. Share what moved you that day, what you struggled with, or a thought that made you smile. Vulnerability builds intimacy. Technology can become a lifeline—schedule date nights online, play games together, or watch the same movie while apart and discuss it after,' said Khangarot, futher adding that when you do meet, resist the temptation to pack the time with errands or social obligations. 'Prioritise quality, meaningful connection over quantity,' she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Chaalbaaz director alleges Ram Gopal Varma forced Sridevi to lose weight: 'She fainted, hit her head, and lost a tooth'
Director Pankaj Parashar revealed that Sridevi's health suffered due to industry pressure to lose weight. Ram Gopal Varma's insistence on extreme dieting for 'Kshana Kshanam' led to a health scare during 'Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin,' causing her to faint and halt production. Akshay Kumar confirmed the film's incomplete status. Behind the glamour and grace of Sridevi 's iconic career lies a troubling pattern of pressure and perfection. In a recent interview, Chaalbaaz director Pankaj Parashar opened up about the damaging impact of industry expectations on the late actor, revealing a disturbing incident where Ram Gopal Varma 's repeated insistence on weight loss led to a serious health scare. Ram Gopal Varma's Role in a Delayed Film In a chat with Friday Talkies, the director addressed the long-delayed release of his incomplete film Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin, starring Sridevi and Akshay Kumar . He blamed Ram Gopal Varma for the setback, claiming Varma pushed Sridevi to lose weight during their work on the 1991 Telugu film Kshana Kshanam, prompting her to go on a crash diet that impacted her health and delayed other projects. A Crash Diet That Ended in a Health Crisis Speaking about the film, Pankaj further revealed that everything was on track until Ram Gopal Varma intervened. He claimed Varma constantly urged Sridevi to lose weight, leading her to follow a crash diet. She cut out salt, which caused her blood pressure to drop. Sridevi fainted, hit a table, remained unconscious for 20 minutes, and even lost a tooth—ultimately causing the entire shoot schedule to be scrapped. He also shared that after Sridevi injured her face, she had to take a break from filming, which led to the schedule being abandoned midway. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo He added that the situation spiraled—'the movie went off track, the financer backed out, the producer passed away'—and eventually, he had no choice but to leave the project. Akshay Kumar Recalls the Unfinished Film A few years ago on Koffee with Karan , Akshay Kumar revealed that Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin was never fully completed. Despite this, an unfinished version was released in 2004. He recalled that while the characters declared they would seek revenge, the actual climax was never shot. Instead, the film abruptly ended with on-screen text stating they eventually took their revenge. Boney Kapoor on Sridevi's Struggles With Dieting In an earlier conversation with The New Indian, Sridevi's husband and producer Boney Kapoor revealed that she was on a diet when she passed away in 2018. He shared that she often starved herself to maintain her on-screen appearance and had experienced blackouts due to low blood pressure. Doctors had warned her about the issue multiple times. Boney also recalled a moment shared by actor Nagarjuna, who visited to offer condolences. Nagarjuna mentioned that during one of Sridevi's films, she was on a crash diet, fainted in the bathroom, and broke her tooth—echoing earlier incidents linked to extreme dieting.
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘Sridevi's BP dropped; she fainted and hit her head, lost a tooth': Chaalbaaz director claims Ram Gopal Varma pushed her to lose weight
Sridevi was known for being one of the best actors of her generation. Like many other stars during that time, she was being subjected to severe criticism about her physical appearance. In a recent interview, director Pankaj Parashar, who worked with her in Chaalbaaz, recalled when director Ram Gopal Varma kept hounding her to lose weight. This resulted in Sridevi fainting, being unconscious for 20 minutes and losing a tooth. In a chat with Friday Talkies, Pankaj was asked about the excessive delay in the release of his incomplete film Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin, in which Sridevi starred with Akshay Kumar. Pankaj said that he would blame Ram Gopal Varma for this, as he kept pushing Sridevi to lose weight and she went on a crash diet to do so. They worked together in 1991's Telugu film Kshana Kshanam. Talking about the film, he said, 'It was going well, but my friend, Ram Gopal Varma, I blame him for that because he kept telling Sridevi to lose weight. She went on a crash diet and when she did that, she stopped taking salt, her blood pressure dropped and she fainted. She fainted, hit the table and was unconscious for 20 minutes. She lost a tooth. So we lost an entire schedule.' ALSO READ | Suniel Shetty opens up about interfaith marriage with wife Mana, says parents were dead against it: 'Shaadi ek samjhauta hota hai' Pankaj said that because Sridevi hit her face, she had to take a break and the film's schedule was abandoned midway. 'The movie went off rail, the financer went away, the producer died, all those things happened, so I left the film.' A few years ago, Akshay Kumar, in an appearance on Koffee with Karan, said that they never shot the ending of the film. An incomplete version was released theatrically in 2004. He recalled that the characters in the film announced that they would take revenge but since they never shot that part, the film just ended with some text on screen saying that they eventually took their revenge. In an earlier chat with The New Indian, Sridevi's husband, producer Boney Kapoor, shared that she was on a diet when she passed away in 2018. 'She often used to starve; she wanted to look good. She wanted to make sure she's in good shape, so that on-screen, she looks good. From the time she was married to me, she had blackouts on a couple of occasions, and the doctor kept on saying she had a low BP issue.' In the same chat, he also recalled that time when she lost her tooth because of fainting. 'Nagarjuna had come home to offer his condolences, and he told me that during one of her movies, she was again on a crash diet, and that's how she fell in the bathroom and broke her teeth,' he said.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘I have never touched another person's phone': Katrina Kaif on maintaining personal space in close friendships and relationships
Navigating the digital world can sometimes feel like navigating a minefield, and celebrities are no exception. Social media etiquette is the need of the hour — whether it's refraining from triple texting, not scrolling through someone else's gallery or bombarding them with Instagram reels. Katrina Kaif has been vocal about her mindful phone usage, and in a recent conversation with Arbaaz Khan on his podcast Pinch, the Bharat actor opened up about how she likes to maintain boundaries with close friends and her partner. 'I do not touch other people's phones. Even if I've touched it, it's to use the camera to take a picture of you. I do not scroll, or what do you call it, touch. I just think that personal space needs to be respected. Otherwise, you are going to have trouble,' she said. Gurleen Baruah, occupational psychologist and executive coach at That Culture Thing, told 'Generally, it is not acceptable for one partner to check the other's phone in a relationship, even if they have permission. This issue is nuanced and involves several important factors to consider.' According to her, trust is a cornerstone of any healthy relationship, and checking a partner's phone undermines this trust and the natural leap of faith that partners take with each other. Privacy is essential, and invading these boundaries can cause lasting damage to the relationship. 'Checking a partner's phone can create a cycle of doubt and suspicion rather than alleviating it. This behaviour often escalates, leading to increasingly invasive actions and higher levels of anxiety,' she said, adding that the habit of checking a partner's phone can become an obsession, particularly if driven by conditions such as Relationship OCD (ROCD). This leads to a cycle of obsession, distress, and compulsion, significantly affecting both mental health and the relationship. Baruah believes open communication and clear boundaries are vital. 'Instead of snooping, partners should discuss their feelings of insecurity and work through them together. This approach fosters a stronger and more trusting relationship,' she added. Navigating issues of privacy and transparency is crucial for maintaining a healthy balance in a relationship. Barua shared some strategies couples can use: Open Communication and Clear Boundaries: Establish open and honest communication to discuss expectations and boundaries regarding privacy and transparency. Agree on what information should be shared and what can remain private, ensuring both partners feel heard and understood. Build and Maintain Trust: Work on building and maintaining trust through consistent, honest behaviour. Trust grows when partners feel secure and confident in each other's actions and intentions. Address any concerns openly to prevent misunderstandings. Respect Individual Space: Allow each other to have private moments and personal space without feeling the need to check up on one another constantly. Respecting individual space is essential for personal well-being and the health of the relationship. Be Transparent About Feelings: Share your feelings and concerns with your partner. If you're feeling insecure or anxious about something, talk about it instead of resorting to invasive actions like checking their phone. Transparency about emotions helps in understanding and addressing the root causes of insecurity.
