Television actress Smita Bansal, celebrated for her portrayal of Sumitra in the long-running drama Balika Vadhu, opened up about a painful personal truth on the reality show 'Tum Ho Naa – Ghar Ki Superstar', hosted by Rajeev Khandelwal. Her revelation, shared in June 2025, laid bare the quiet cost her career has exacted on her role as a mother.

The Moment That Stayed With Her

Bansal recalled a specific incident that crystallised her sense of absence at home. 'Once I came back from the shoot, I told my mother that I'll take Stasha and put her to sleep but when Stasha came to me, she refused. She said, I'll sleep with grandmother,' she shared on the show.

The moment, small in appearance, carried enormous emotional weight for the actress. It underscored how the relentless pace of long-format television production can quietly erode the everyday intimacies of family life.

The Irony of Playing a Mother Onscreen

Bansal's candour struck a deeper chord given the nature of her most celebrated role. As Sumitra — the nurturing mother figure in Balika Vadhu — she was, for millions of viewers, the very embodiment of maternal warmth. 'The whole world called me Anandi's mother, Jagya's mother and I was not available at home for my own daughter. For me it became such a big loss as a mother,' she said.

The contrast is stark: a woman lauded nationally for playing a devoted mother, privately grappling with the guilt of not being present enough for her own child. It is a tension that resonates across the entertainment industry, where shooting schedules routinely stretch beyond twelve hours a day.

What Her Roles Taught Her About Strength

Despite the personal cost, Bansal drew meaning from the women she has portrayed across more than two decades in the industry. 'Some of the most memorable characters I have portrayed over the years have been women who carried immense strength within them, often without ever speaking about it,' she said.

She added that playing such roles reshaped her own understanding of resilience. 'True strength doesn't always come from grand gestures; sometimes it lies in the quiet sacrifices, unwavering patience, and courage with which women navigate life every single day. It's something I deeply resonate with even today,' Bansal said.

Personal Life

Bansal married director and actor Ankush Mohla in 2002. The couple has two daughters, Stasha and Anaagha. Her elder daughter Stasha is the child at the centre of the emotional anecdote she shared on the show.

As Bansal continues to reflect on a career built on portraying strong, silent women, her candid admission adds a dimension rarely discussed in mainstream entertainment coverage — the personal sacrifices behind decades of iconic performances.