Exclusive - Bhabi Ji actress Vidisha Srivastava recalls being in extreme pain during delivery; says 'I went through 21 hours of labour pain to deliver my daughter'

Vidisha Srivastava, famously known as Gori Mem from "Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai," recently welcomed a baby girl. In a candid conversation with ETimes TV, the new mom shared insights about her journey into motherhood, enduring 21 hours of labour, and juggling work with caring for her baby. She also discussed her maternity shoot, which garnered mixed reactions and some trolling. (Photo: Instagram)

The taboos and stereotypes have been broken. Now you see all the top actresses are married and have kids. I am married, I have a kid and I bring her on the sets. I am working 20-25 days a month. Being married or being a mother has never been an obstacle or stopped me from pursuing my career. The audience has loved me equally like before. From Deepika, Anushka, to Alia everyone is doing great. Not just in movies, even in the Television industry, everyone is getting married and flaunting it. There’s nothing to hide. (Photo: Instagram)

Audience has also started accepting the change. We can’t have a narrow mindset, when we create awareness even the audience starts relating and understanding. Like I did a photoshoot during my pregnancy and I flaunted my baby bump. It’s fine. It’s my body, there was a baby inside and I am proud of the fact that I was making a baby. I flaunted it. When I can share my bikini photos and show my waist, why can I not show my belly when I’m carrying a baby inside. If people are liking my bikini photos, I don’t think they should have any objection to my baby bump photos. Nobody can raise a question about how she can show her baby bump, for me it’s fine and it is my body. (Photo: Instagram)

I did not plan my pregnancy. I was working on Bhabi Ji and had joined just 9-10 months ago and I got pregnant. But I proudly accepted that I am going to have this baby. I spoke to my makers and they were very supportive. As I went on the journey of motherhood I realised I was not very mentally prepared but slowly started enjoying the changes in my body. I was very happy about the changes. I was working till 9 months of my pregnancy. Main jis din chutti par gayi hoon Uske 10th day I delivered my baby. I worked throughout the 9 months. Jaise jaise mere body mein changes aaye, I started enjoying it. I wanted to flaunt it so I shot for the maternity photoshoot. I was like this is my body, this is me unapologetically and I want to cherish the moment for my lifetime. I’ve got this opportunity for the first time in my life and I don’t want to miss out on anything. So I did the photoshoot. (Photo: Instagram)

I got mixed reactions for the photoshoot. There were lots of people who showered love on me but there were also people who criticised and trolled me. There were people who praised my bikini photos where my cleavage, stomach were visible and they were fine but because it was a bigger belly they wrote negative comments and trolled me. They wrote comments like “Kya zarurat thi Aise photoshoot karwani ki.. I never cared, today I’m back to my original shape and I know the moment I post a picture in a bikini, they will drop comments praising me. It’s their mentally and perception. (Photo: Instagram)

During the initial months of pregnancy I was facing issues and I was not supposed to share with anyone. For me it was not that painful, but due hormonal changes in my body and mood swings I would prefer to sit alone in my room. There were so many things happening with your body and that time you don’t know how to react but being a professional you have to come on the sets and perform. I was doing a comedy show, so my energy had to be up, it could not drop. I can’t give an excuse that oh I’m pregnant I want to rest, I can’t do this or that. Also, when you are bearing a child inside, you get a different kind of energy. I feel being a mother is the bravest thing one can do. (Photo: Instagram)

My delivery was a very painful one. I went through 21 hours of labour pain. It was a normal delivery. I had told my doctor I wanted a normal delivery so the doctor waited for it. 21 ghante baad bahut painful delivery ke baad my daughter was born, I was in extreme pain. I was completely numb because of the pain that I could feel at that moment. Jab Meri baby hui Aur Mujhe haath mein diya Gaya main uss moment ko feel nahi kar payi because I was in so much pain. I still remember the moment but I don’t remember the feeling. (Photo: Instagram)

After 3-4 days, it started sinking in. These moments are so difficult to understand because suddenly your life changes and you have such a big responsibility that only you can handle. As a mother nobody else can step inside in your shoes. Be it feeding, putting them to sleep, taking care of their needs, you have to do everything no matter if you have stitches, because it is your baby and you want to do everything for her. (Photo: Instagram)

I resumed work after my second month of delivery. My baby Adhya was born on July 11th 2023 and I resumed work on August 28th. I was there on the sets. I resumed within one and a half months. It is all thanks to my mother. I feel when you don’t have your family’s support then the journey becomes really tough. I’m grateful and blessed that they supported me. My mom is always with me on the sets. If she is not there my husband is there. My mother is a constant. (Photo: Instagram)

This is a sitcom show so it is a bit easy also because the moment I finish my scenes I go to my room and be with my daughter. I don’t want to compromise on my responsibilities as a mother and my work as this is also my commitment. I try to balance both my responsibilities. It’s not easy but somehow with the help and family and makers of Bhabi Ji it becomes easier for me. To make things more comfortable I’ve rented out a villa close to the sets so that whenever I am too exhausted and tired we can stay back and we don’t have to travel at night from Naigaon to Mumbai. (Photo: Instagram)