Actor Raveena Tandon has opened up about the challenges and criticisms she faced when she decided to adopt two girls, Pooja and Chaya, as a single mother in 1995. The kids were 11 and 8 years old, respectively.
In an interview with Zoom, Raveena said, ‘Whenever you do something, there will always be these trolls or someone will make some sexist remark, trying to create controversies out of nothing. I remember one article even saying that these must be her (Raveena’s) hidden children, which she must have had out of wedlock. When I was 21, they were eight and 11. So, when did I have them? When I was 11 or 12? Trolling happens even today… Anything you do, there will be trolling. I say you shouldn’t pay attention to these people’.
‘Some ‘well-meaning’ aunties asked who will marry me now, because I come with excess baggage. I was like, whoever loves me will love me, my girls, my dogs, my cat, and whoever I come with,’ the actor said.
Besides Rasha, Pooja, and Chaya, Raveena Tandon and Anil Thadani have one more child — Ranbirvardhan.
When asked how she adapted to the changes as a mother in the 90s and 2000s, the actor said, ‘When my girls came to me, they were eight and 11. So yes, I had to deal with that teenage, rebellious phase wherein they used to argue and fight with me. However, since the age difference was not so much, I think we ended up being very good friends.’
‘I think it all depends on the way you bring up your kids. If you keep putting it in their head that there is a generation gap and such things, stuff won’t work. There were so many things that my mom used to tell me… then I started telling these things to Pooja and Chaya. Now, they have Rasha and Ranbir. So, Pooja and Chaya are now telling these things to Rasha and Ranbir. Then I see Rasha saying these things to Rudra and Jaden. So, it has passed through generations and I hope that we can keep that quality of upbringing amongst our line of family,’ she added.
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