Divyanka Tripathi on mom guilt, twin boys, and returning to work
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Actress Divyanka Tripathi, who recently welcomed twin boys with husband and actor Vivek Dahiya, has opened up about navigating early motherhood, mom guilt, and the decision to return to work — in a candid conversation on Gauahar Khan's postpartum health podcast, 'The Fourth Trimester'.
Returning to Work: 'I Don't Have a Right Answer'
Divyanka described her decision to resume work as deeply personal and shaped by circumstance. 'I don't have a right answer to this. I don't know what is right or wrong. All I know is that when this opportunity came along, I felt it was the best one for me because I only had to work one day a week, and the project would continue for several months,' she said. She credited both her husband and the production team for making the transition possible. 'The strength to make this decision also came from my family. My husband assured me that he would be there for me, and the production team was extremely supportive and helpful,' she added.
Navigating Parenthood as a Team
Divyanka was candid about the shared learning curve she and Vivek are on. 'Even he is learning how to be a parent and how to navigate life with a woman who has also become a mother. Dealing with a mother who is hormonal is not easy,' she said. She noted that post-delivery, most advice and attention tends to centre around the babies, sometimes leaving the mother without adequate support — a pattern she had researched ahead of time.
Setting Ground Rules Early
Divyanka shared that she proactively communicated her needs to Vivek in the earliest weeks of parenthood. 'So, right at the beginning, I told Vivek that there would be times when I might ask him to do something, and I wouldn't want him to ask too many questions about why it needed to be done a certain way with the babies. At that point, I might not have the bandwidth to deal with that conversation,' she explained. She described their parenting dynamic as one of mutual growth. 'As the kids grow, he is learning alongside me how to care for them. It's about caretaking, and he is learning how to take care of the kids too,' she said.
Why the Conversation Resonates
The discussion on Gauahar Khan's podcast touches on a rarely explored dimension of celebrity motherhood — the internal conflict between professional identity and caregiving. Postpartum mental health, including mom guilt, remains broadly under-discussed in mainstream Indian media despite growing awareness. Divyanka's willingness to speak openly about emotional bandwidth, hormonal changes, and the need for spousal communication adds a grounded perspective to the conversation. This comes amid a broader cultural moment where Indian celebrities are increasingly vocal about postpartum experiences on public platforms.