Actress and model Natasa Stankovic and Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya announced their separation in July this year. Following the announcement, Natasa traveled to her hometown in Serbia with her son Agastya, sparking speculation that she had moved out of India. However, Natasa has since returned and expressed her openness to resuming her career in India. 


Natasa Stankovic says she will stay in India


In an interview with the Times of India, Natasa clarified that her trip to Serbia was simply an annual visit, not a permanent relocation. “There's a talk in the city that I'm going back. (But) How would I go back? I have a child. The child goes to school here. There is no chance... That won't happen. The child needs to be here. He belongs here. The family is here at the end of the day. We (Hardik and I) are still a family. We have a child, and the child will always make us a family at the end of the day. I haven’t done that anyway because Agastya needs to stay with both parents. It’s been 10 years and I go every year at the same time back in Serbia,” she says.  


When asked if she and Hardik are co-parenting, she confirms, “Yes, we are.” 


Natasa misses not working for five years


During the interview, Natasa reflected on her career, noting that while she has been open to work, her time away from the limelight led many to assume otherwise. She was last seen participating in popular Indian reality shows ‘Bigg Boss 8’ and ‘Nach Baliye 9’, but she chose to step back to focus on her family.  


“I missed that I didn't do anything for the last five years. I have no regrets in life because I have my child, and I have given the time to him. I just feel I could have. As a woman and as someone who has worked before and for my mental health, I think that (working) would have been much better. Of course, having a child is the best thing that happens to every mother and father,” she said. 


Not affected by people's assumption


Now, with Agastya slightly older, Natasa is looking forward to balancing her personal life and career. "I just want to live a simple life, with work. I know that the profession that I've chosen you are somewhere in the spotlight. People’s assumption doesn't affect me. I am at peace with myself. I'm at peace with people assuming about me. I know how much I have done in life, where I come from and nothing can shake me. Nobody can shake me,” she told the Times of India. 


Natasa also shared her plans to write a book, where she intends to share some of the challenges she’s overcome.