Veteran actress Poonam Dhillon has spoken candidly about stepping away from a thriving Bollywood career to prioritise raising her children, describing the years she spent as a largely solo parent as both demanding and deeply fulfilling. The actress made the revelations during an appearance on the show 'Tum Ho Naa – Ghar Ki Superstar', hosted by Rajeev Khandelwal.

The Decision to Step Back

Dhillon revealed that for several years she turned down film offers entirely, citing the young age of her children and the absence of parental support at home. 'For a few years I completely stopped working. The children were very small and I did not have the support of my parents to leave them at home. I was the one who took care of the children. That's why for a few years I refused films,' she said.

When she did return to work, she made a deliberate shift toward television, reasoning that it would involve fewer outdoor shoots. She also negotiated strict working hours. 'I also set the condition that I would work only limited hours because my son was only one and a half years old. My focus was that I should not neglect the children in any way,' she added.

Life as a Near-Single Parent

Reflecting on the broader experience of motherhood, Dhillon acknowledged that financial support was available but that the emotional and practical weight of parenting rested largely on her shoulders. 'In my case, yes, I was to some extent a single parent. Financial support was provided, but… You never know when it can be needed,' she said, adding that financial independence and skill-building are essential for every woman's self-respect and security.

She also offered a wider observation on Indian mothers: 'Mostly all women raise children single-handedly. Married or in a joint family, the responsibility of children is carried out by every mother with full heart and full courage.'

Weaving Work Around Her Children's Routines

The 'Teri Meherbaniyan' actress described the practical choreography of managing a shoot schedule alongside school runs and homework. Her daughter would visit the set after school and complete her homework there. 'Before going to school, my daughter would come in the morning and say, 'Mom, make my braid,' because she didn't know how to properly make a braid. So, I made her braid, got her ready in her uniform, and sent her to school. Then when she came back from school, she would come straight to the set. She did her homework sitting with me on the set,' Dhillon recalled.

Pride in Her Children Today

Dhillon said the sacrifices have been more than worth it. 'I am very proud of my children. Wherever I go and people say how good your children are, it feels very nice,' she said. She added that hearing second-hand compliments about her son or daughter from people who had met them in her absence gave her particular joy.

This comes amid a broader cultural conversation in India about the invisible labour of motherhood and the career trade-offs women in the entertainment industry routinely face. Dhillon's account adds a rare first-person dimension to that discussion from someone who navigated it at the peak of her stardom.