From Neena Gupta to Mona Singh, women who’ve redefined the idea of family

While Gen Z is often credited with breaking away from the traditional norms by not opting for marriage or children, Bollywood’s superstars have been going against the grain quietly for the last several decades. Not only that, but also, they strongly assert that neither personal fulfillment nor family must be dependent on a marital union or the “right one”.

Sushmita Sen brought her daughters home when she was in her 20s, Mandira Bedi had a baby girl when she was 49, and Karisma Kapoor decided to raise her child alone after her divorce. Although Tabu has stayed single at 53, Neena Gupta made a conscious decision to be a single mother to Masaba decades ago. In a conversation with the Times of India, Mona Singh also disclosed that she was 34 when she decided to freeze her eggs, thereby scheduling her motherhood as per her convenience.

Why unconventional choices in Bollywood have always mattered

This list of women proves that opting for an unconventional path is not exclusively a trend of Gen Z. For decades, these women have covertly defied societal norms, thereby acting as role models for numerous others to pick the life choices that resonate them the most. Even though their stories did not always get too much exposure, their treks are instances of valor, autonomy and self-agency.

Lessons from Bollywood’s trailblazers

By publicly acknowledging motherhood, career aspirations, and personal autonomy, these women have illustrated that family does not necessarily have to be one way. In whatever case whether these celebrities are taking the less-trodden path by adopting kids at a tender age, raising a child all by oneself or even deciding to be a mom later in life, their happiness and fulfillment are evident to exist beyond the standard narrative.

A reflection for Gen Z and beyond

Present day Gen Z is more outspoken about their take on life and their choices, but these Bollywood glamor queens had been doing it all along albeit in a more discreet way. Living your life exactly the way you want has never been a new thing, but these women's stories are one of the reminders of it and what makes them different today is that they are more talked about, celebrated and admired.