Bollywood industry can be very judgemental towards women who do not bend to the usual norms. Sushmita Sen is one of them. She didn’t let age become a reason for the industry to sideline her. Nor did she ever dim her screen presence to avoid overshadowing her male co-stars.
Most importantly, she didn’t stop just because she became a mother. Her career has been on an uphill trajectory, going from a beauty pageant winner to doing iconic songs and films, and mostly recently the gripping show, Aarya.
Sushmita Sen’s Manager Left Her
© Instagram/sushmitasen47
Speaking with NDTV, Sushmita Sen revealed that when she adopted her first daughter, Renee, at the age of 24, her manager gave up on her almost immediately. Due to her decision to become a mother at such an early age, their patriarchal mindset had convinced them that her career was also over.
“My manager ran away,” she said.
She was told by her manager, “You’re not serious about your career, and I can’t represent someone who’s a mother at 24.”
Even though she was without a manager, left stranded in an industry that defined women by their age and motherhood, she did not give up. In fact, Renee became her strength.
She said, “After I became a mother, I gave my biggest hits.”
Her manager was convinced that Sushmita’s potential as a lead actress was gone the moment she became a mother. However, the actress did not let such stereotypes and norms define her. She delivered blockbusters one after the other, maintaining her position as an iconic actress.
To double down on it, her potential as a leading lady hasn’t been deterred, with Aarya being liked by fans and critics alike. Not only did she go on to adopt another child, Alisah, later in life, but she also remained unmarried.
As a single mother of two, she presented herself as a fearless force to be reckoned with. No norms or Bollywood expectations were going to come in between her and her dreams of becoming a leading actress. Neither age nor her marital status was going to define her skills and talent.