Soha Ali Khan on Losing Friends, Career Struggles After Motherhood, and Supporting Deepika Padukone’s Call for Work-Life Balance

Bollywood actor Soha Ali Khan has made her return to the big screen with Chhorii 2, marking her comeback after a long break. In a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Soha opened up about how motherhood changed her life—personally and professionally—and why she fully supports Deepika Padukone’s demand for shorter work hours in the film industry.

Soha became a mother in 2017 at the age of 38 when she welcomed her daughter Inaaya. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “I lost my entire identity in motherhood. I lost my friends, I temporarily lost my husband. I forgot everything. I chose to have Inaaya late because I knew it would consume me. I tend to give my all to one thing at a time. For the first three years, it was all about her, and I had to relearn how to find balance. But that’s just who I am. I knew work and friendships would have to take a back seat.”

Now, Soha says she’s working to strike a better balance between her career and her role as a mother. "By 7 p.m., I start getting anxious because that’s our bedtime routine. When we were shooting Chhorii 2 in Rajasthan, I remember breaking down in tears one day because I hadn’t seen her at all. I really feel for new mums—I completely understand where Deepika is coming from.”

Referring to Deepika Padukone’s reported request for an eight-hour workday on the sets of Spirit—a project she later exited—Soha said she empathized deeply. “At 7, if we haven’t wrapped, I’ll leave. I know some people might say, ‘Don’t hire Soha—she’ll want to leave early.’ That’s a career hit I was willing to take at 38, after I had already achieved quite a bit.”

Deepika was initially in talks to star in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, but reports suggest her conditions—including a limited work schedule, avoiding Telugu dialogues, and asking for profit-sharing—didn’t sit well with the makers. She was eventually replaced by Animal star Triptii Dimri.

Meanwhile, Soha received praise for her role in Chhorii 2, in which she played an eerie and powerful “daasi.” The horror sequel, also starring Gashmeer Mahajani and Nushrratt Bharuccha, is now streaming on Prime Video. While she hasn’t announced her next project yet, Soha’s return marks a new chapter—one defined by both passion and boundaries.