Kiara Advani has once again brought attention to actresses continuing their professional commitments during pregnancy.
The actress shot for Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups while pregnant and continued working well into her pregnancy.
Her co-star Huma Qureshi recently revealed that Kiara even filmed a rain sequence when she was nearly six months pregnant.
Kiara’s dedication has now started a wider conversation about actresses who have continued shooting, attending events or completing professional commitments while expecting.
Over the years, several Indian actresses have chosen to remain active in their careers during pregnancy, showing that motherhood does not necessarily mean stepping away from work.
Yash has also spoken about taking extra care of Kiara during the shoot. He said he and director Geetu Mohandas became like her “bouncers” and “bodyguards” because they were concerned about her safety on set.
Kiara later revealed that Yash and Geetu were among the first people she informed about her pregnancy.
Instead of worrying about how the news would affect the film, she said they reacted emotionally and supported her.
Deepika Padukone continued working during pregnancy
Deepika Padukone worked extensively during her pregnancies. During her first pregnancy with her daughter Dua in 2024, she shot major portions and promotional events for Kalki 2898 AD (where she played a pregnant character).
During her second pregnancy, she continued shooting intense action sequences and night shifts for Atlee’s upcoming film Raaka starring Allu Arjun well into her third trimester.
Alia Bhatt shot action scenes while pregnant
Alia Bhatt remained active throughout her pregnancy. She attended promotional events and also worked on her Hollywood debut Heart of Stone during this period.
The actress had spoken about continuing to work as long as she was fit and healthy. She described acting as her passion and said working gave her a sense of happiness.
Her decision also challenged the old idea that actresses have to completely step away from their careers after marriage or pregnancy.
Kareena Kapoor worked until her eighth month
Kareena Kapoor Khan has been one of the strongest voices in Bollywood when it comes to balancing motherhood and a film career.
While shooting Laal Singh Chaddha, Kareena revealed that she was pregnant and continued working. She said she worked until her eighth month and credited the film’s team, including co-star Aamir Khan, for being supportive.
Kareena had also spoken openly about the pressure placed on actresses after marriage and motherhood. Her career has continued across films, streaming projects, endorsements and other professional commitments.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu also represents changing attitudes
South Indian cinema has also seen actresses challenge traditional expectations around marriage and motherhood. Samantha Ruth Prabhu has been among the prominent actresses whose careers have continued to attract attention despite personal changes in her life.
She has built a successful career across Telugu and Tamil cinema and later expanded into Hindi-language projects as well. Earlier discussions about women in Indian cinema have highlighted Samantha as an example of an actress continuing to pursue her professional ambitions despite expectations surrounding marriage and family life.
Why this change matters
For decades, actresses were often expected to take a long break after marriage or motherhood. Questions about whether they would be able to continue getting leading roles were common.
The industry is gradually changing. Today, actresses are increasingly deciding when and how they want to work, depending on their health, personal choices, family support and professional commitments.
At the same time, every pregnancy is different. Continuing to work during pregnancy is an individual decision and depends on a person’s health and medical advice. The experiences of celebrities should not be treated as a standard for every expecting woman.
Kiara, Deepika, Alia, Kareena and other actresses have nevertheless helped make one thing more visible: motherhood and a successful career do not have to be treated as opposing choices.
