From Kiara Advani to Kareena Kapoor: 5 times when celebrity moms faced backlash for parenting differently

Parenting has always been considered a great responsibility, often accompanied by criticism and scrutiny from society whenever something goes wrong in a child’s upbringing. In Indian culture especially, parenting is regarded with immense importance and emotional value. Over the years, many Indian celebrities have openly shared their parenting approaches and the ways in which they wish to raise their children, only to face criticism and backlash from audiences online. However, such backlash is often harsher for women than for men. Mothers are more frequently judged for the behaviour and upbringing of their children, while fathers are rarely held equally accountable. The same pattern continues in the world of celebrity culture, where women often bear the greater burden of public judgment. Here are five Indian female celebrities who faced backlash over their parenting choices.


Kiara Advani recently faced a huge wave of public criticism after her appearance on Raj Shamani’s podcast, where she spoke about raising children with an open mind and without traditional judgments. Clips from the conversation quickly went viral, especially the part where she opened up about the mistakes her parents made while she was growing up and how she does not want to repeat them with her own child. Her simple yet empowering statement eventually sparked a major debate around her parenting views.

Kareena Kapoor Khan has often been severely criticised for the way she is raising her children. Initially, she faced backlash for appointing a nanny to take care of her children at an early age. She was also heavily criticised for naming her son Taimur. Her journey through motherhood has frequently become a topic of social media gossip and public discussion. Despite the criticism, Kareena has openly spoken about balancing motherhood with her career and has consistently rejected society’s expectations of being a “perfect mother.”


Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has often been trolled for being overly protective of her daughter, Aaradhya. She is frequently seen holding her daughter’s hand in public, which has led many people on social media to label her as excessively protective. However, many fail to consider that constant media attention and paparazzi presence around celebrity children can naturally make parents more cautious and protective.

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar recently faced backlash over her comments on parenting and financial stability, which went viral on social media. During an interview while promoting her film S Saraswathi, she spoke about the importance of being serious and responsible about parenting. According to her, people who are not financially stable should avoid becoming parents until they are prepared. She also emphasized that having children should involve proper planning, both emotionally and financially.


Neena Gupta has also faced criticism for raising her daughter out of wedlock. She was often judged and criticised for this aspect of her parenting. Not only the public, but Neena herself has also reflected critically on her parenting journey, as she believed that not being able to provide her daughter with a traditional family structure created several hardships for Masaba Gupta while growing up.

These backlash against female celebrities reflect a larger reality within society that women are constantly judged for their actions, especially when it comes to parenting. There is very little room for individuality or privacy in the way mothers choose to raise their children. The moment a woman dares to imagine a different upbringing for the next generation or challenges traditional societal norms, her choices often become a subject of criticism and public debate. But is it really so difficult for society to evolve with changing times? And why does the responsibility of raising a child still fall more heavily on mothers?