Salute to Single Moms!

There are quite a many single moms in the Indian Television industry who have fought all odds to survive and have emerged as winners in the race. This Mother's Day meet these real life supermoms!

Published: Saturday,May 10, 2014 18:55 PM GMT-06:00

Seema Matoo

They portray various characters on screen but in real life it is the role of being a mother that they enjoy the most. However, for them it is a tad tougher since these women are single mothers who have taken up the challenge of being happily single while raising their kids and at the same time taking up a profession like acting which despite being a lucrative career is also a continuous struggle riddled with insecurity and long hours too! These are the real supermoms who have survived against all odds and emerged as the winners.

Neena Gupta - She was first noticed on Indian Television in the series Khandaan after which she went on to do many author backed roles and even directed and acted in the popular show Saans. Breaking all rules and society traditions, veteran actress Neena Gupta became a single mother in the late eighties when she had a child out of wedlock with popular cricketer Vivian Richards. While they both never got married, he acknowledged his daughter Masaba who is almost a replica of her father. Despite all odds Neena went on to make a name for herself in Television and Films while at the same time raising Masaba who now has an identity of her own as a reputed fashion designer while Neena married Delhi based businessman and chartered accountant Vivek Mehra in 2008.

Mona Ambegaonkar - This tall and graceful actress has won many awards for her roles in TV and Films but the most challenging role for her must be being a strong, single mother to her daughter who was born in December 2005. While Mona is justified to fiercely be protective about keeping her daughter safe and as yet she doesn't like to talk about it too. However, she has earlier spoken about her ordeal as a single mother when she was almost homeless after the birth of her baby and how she had no support from anyone neither emotionally nor financially. With no help at hand, Mona could not even go out and work for a living and had to survive on her meager earnings till her baby grew up but she still managed to do justice to both - her daughter and also to her role in Amber Dhara. She has still not revealed the name of her daughter's father but has managed to move on in life quite well. Now that her daughter is grown up a little Mona is seen taking up acting assignments but her first priority still remains to be her daughter.

Pooja Bedi - This lady with verve and full of life attitude Pooja Bedi is as unconventional as it gets. After her divorce with businessman Farhan Furniturewala Pooja managed to raise their kids - son Omar and daughter Aaliya single handedly while also continuing with her modeling and acting career. She was popular as a TV show host too and went on to become a contestant of Bigg Boss Season 5 wherein her bindaas attitude gained her lots of friends and also a boyfriend in the form of Akashdeep Saigal. The yummy mummy Pooja who has always been open about her relationships claims to be a mom and a friend to her kids and seems to have done an excellent job out of it.

Urvashi Dholakia - Her twitter introduction reads - A SUCCESSFUL Woman is one who can build a FIRM FOUNDATION with the BRICKS others have thrown at her.' Well, that sums up this women with a tough exterior who has most of the times played a vamp on screen but in real life she is a frank and honest mother of twins. Married at a young age of 16, the feisty Urvashi Dholakia became a mother at 17 and had a divorce one and half years later. Urvashi who was a child actor and had started working in Television as well turned back to acting for a steady source of income and her big ticket came in the form of playing Komolika in Kasautii Zindagii Kay. Her support system have been her parents with whom she stayed and as a loyal daughter and mother she completed all her responsibilities even as she went out to carve a career of her own as an actor in the Indian Television industry. Her twin sons Kshitij and Sagar who went to a boarding school have had a good upbringing and were unexposed to the industry. The budding youngsters made their appearance on the show Bigg Boss Season 6 which saw Urvashi emerge the winner.

Kamya Punjabi - We all saw her recently in Bigg Boss Saath 7 wherein she cried every day and every time she remembered her little daughter. Separated from her husband Bunty Negi, Kamya had filed for divorce a month before entering the show and claimed that she was on the show to deal with her personal life. Her love for her five year old daughter Aara was evident when she had to fight when some of her co-contestants tried to cut her daughter's pictures for a task. A fighter from the core, Kamya who has many donned many negative characters is also good at comedy which she has proved in Comedy Circus but most of all she sure is one tough single mother.

Shweta Tiwari - Last but not the least Shweta Tiwari was a single mother to her daughter Palak for a long, long time. With a tumultuous married life with her ex-husband Raja Choudhary, Shweta was left scarred for life. She was victim of his anger even as she was riding the waves of success in Kasautii Zindagi Ki. They tried to mend things and even made an appearance together as a Jodi in Nach Baliye 2 but nothing could make Raja mend his ways. Ultimately Shweta took the bold decision to end her marriage in 2007 but there were many struggles in her path, one of them being keeping Palak out of it all and making sure that she is financially secure to raise her alone. Shweta went on to continue working in Television shows and also won the Bigg Boss Season Season 4 title during which she teary eyed claimed that she would keep the prize money for Palak's future. Last year Shweta finally got married to actor Abhinav Kohli and now she and 13 year old Palak are enjoying the good times.

Seema Khot Mattoo

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Comments (48)

ipkviewer @ipkviewer

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kudos to all listed.
Mona, I loved your performance in BRKD. Having read about the struggles you had to face around your kid's birth, I wish you had support from your family in such low time

10 years ago

a642126

@a642126

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10 years ago

zeezee09 @zeezee09

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Happy Mother's day to not only single mothers but every mother in all walks of life.

The tv single mothers had it smooth since they all have and have had a job on Tv.

But what about those single mothers who have no support system from their family and are struggling to make ends meet. My salute to those special mothers who are bravely facing life alone

10 years ago

3 Reply

Not Available @navk

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hats off to all
happy mothers day to all

10 years ago

1 Reply

kls600 @kls600

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I agree Urvashi is a great mother ! She has a very tough exterior but when cracked she is the nicest person. I respect her more than anything.

Her sons proved it when they came on BB6 and acted so maturely.

10 years ago

1 Reply

Mandy @BeyondHorizon

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Hats off to all these women who proved it to the world that they are more than capable of shouldering all responsibilities, be that of raising a kid or their professional life.

10 years ago

3 Reply