Soha Ali Khan Opens Up About Losing Career, Friends to Motherhood: Supports Deepika Padukone's 8-Hour Work Rule

Soha Ali Khan reveals how motherhood altered her personal and professional life, expressing support for Deepika Padukone’s call for an eight-hour workday on film sets.

Soha Ali Khan says she lost her identity to motherhood, now backs Deepika Padukone's call for shorter film shoots

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Actor Soha Ali Khan, who recently returned to the silver screen with the horror sequel 'Chhorii 2', has opened up about the toll motherhood took on her personal and professional life. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Soha offered a heartfelt account of how her identity, friendships, and career were put on pause after she became a mother in 2017.

“I lost my entire identity in motherhood. I lost my friends, I temporarily lost my husband. I forgot everything,” she said, referring to the early years after the birth of her daughter Inaaya. Soha, who embraced motherhood at 38, admitted she was all-consumed by parenting in the beginning: “For the first three years, it was all about her—to the extent that I had to find balance again.”

Why She Supports Deepika Padukone’s Work-Life Boundaries

Soha also spoke out in support of Deepika Padukone, who reportedly exited Spirit due to creative and logistical disagreements, including her demand for an eight-hour workday. “I totally understand where Deepika is coming from,” Soha said.

Recalling a moment from her recent film shoot, Soha revealed the emotional strain of being away from her daughter. “By 7 p.m. I start getting anxious because it’s my bedtime ritual with her… I burst into tears once because we were in Rajasthan, shooting, and I hadn’t seen her all day.”

She added that she’s aware her strict schedule might deter producers: “Some people will be like, ‘Don’t hire her (Soha) because she could be tough—she’s going to want to run home after 7.’ That was a career hit I was ready to take at 38, after achieving a lot.”

Return to Cinema with Chhorii 2 and What’s Next

After a long hiatus, Soha returned to acting with 'Chhorii 2', where she played an evil daasi. Starring alongside Gashmeer Mahajani and Nushrratt Bharuccha, Soha received praise for her eerie and intense performance in the Vishal Furia-directed film, now streaming on Prime Video.

While she has yet to announce her next project, her comeback signals a shift in how working mothers in Bollywood are redefining boundaries—both on and off-screen.