Every day should be Mother’s Day: Rubina Dilaik

Motherhood has transformed nearly every aspect of Rubina Dilaik’s life — reshaping her priorities, emotions and even her relationship with work. On the occasion of Mother’s Day, the actress reflected on the profound changes motherhood has brought into her life. “After becoming a mother, I’ve realised every day should be Mother’s Day. And if we, as mothers, do not acknowledge that ourselves, it will be difficult for others to follow suit,” she says.

Rubina believes motherhood often comes with the expectation of constant giving, which is why she feels women must consciously prioritise themselves too. “Taking care of yourself and making yourself a priority is not selfishness; it is self-love. And if we are able to achieve that, we are going to create a secure generation that understands self-worth, because that is directly proportional to self-love,” she shares.

Becoming a mother has also changed her understanding of her own mother’s protectiveness — something she admits she once misunderstood. “My mother always said, ‘When you become a mother, you’ll understand,’ and I used to laugh,” she recalls. “I used to think I’d be a cool mother. I’m not going to be like you — always checking on us and saying no to so many things.”

Now, she says, those conversations make complete sense to her. “I realise what she actually meant. I can see how I constantly want to make sure my children are safe and protected. That’s exactly what my mother has always done for us,” she says.

Summing up her thoughts on motherhood, Rubina adds, “A woman has the unique power to create life, and that creation is truly divine. We don’t talk about it often enough. We tend to take the bond between a mother and child very casually, especially the depth of a mother’s love and intention. That is something we often misunderstand.”

‘It will be difficult for me to stay away from my children’ On the work front, Rubina Dilaik is set to host The Ward, a new non-fiction series that delves into the emotional and social realities of pregnancy and motherhood. “Hosting was always at the back of my mind. I was waiting for the right opportunity, and this show felt perfect for me,” she says. The actress is also preparing to return to Khatron Ke Khiladi. However, this will be the first time she will be away from her daughters for an extended period. “It is quite unnerving,” she says. “My husband, Abhinav Shukla, told me, ‘Rubina, you may not get this opportunity again. Since it has come your way, we will figure out how to manage everything.’ That kind of support from my husband has really helped me navigate this decision. But it will still be difficult for me to stay away from my children.”