Exclusive - Rubina Dilaik recalls hiding her pregnancy during a Punjabi film shoot, talks about mom guilt and motherhood; says, 'My nose would start bleeding on set due to the extreme heat'

Popular actress Rubina Dilaik, who is a mother of twin daughters Edhaa and Jeeva recently spoke exclusively to Times of India TV about her beautiful motherhood journey, and how life has changed after welcoming twins. During the chat, the actress recalled hiding the news of her pregnancy while shooting for her debut Punjabi film and facing health issues on set due to the extreme heat. She also opened up about the constant support she receives from husband Abhinav Shukla and dealing with the infamous mom's guilt. (Photo: Instagram)

I always had a strong mindset about it. However, I did not want to announce my pregnancy in the beginning because we were expecting twins. Our doctor advised us to wait until the first trimester was over and all the necessary scans were completed. Once everything looked fine, we felt comfortable sharing the news. I was shooting for a Punjabi film during my first trimester. We had to hide the pregnancy from the makers because we had our valid reasons, but those difficulties never stopped me from fulfilling my commitments. I worked 12 to 14 hours a day, often under the hot sun. I remember, the heat in Punjab during that time was so extreme that my nose would start bleeding. (Photo: Instagram)

After coming back to the hotel, I would take a cold shower or sit in a bathtub to cool down. I often felt nauseous, I also couldn't eat much and was always thirsty. We were shooting in remote areas, so even getting cold water was difficult sometimes. But I never complained because I truly love my work. I never wanted my pregnancy to become a reason to stop doing what I was passionate about. I made a promise to myself that I would take care of my health while also ensuring that my work did not suffer. (Photo: Instagram)

At this stage of my life, I am learning how to balance everything. I don't want to give up on my dreams, and I also don't want to miss spending time with my family. I am a mindful person and a mindful mother. At the same time, I am an artist and a public figure. I understand the responsibilities that come with it. I feel It's all about finding the right balance between work and family. As we grow, we become clearer about our priorities. I have found my path, and my daughters have played a very important role in helping me understand that. (Photo: Instagram)

My daughters have helped me realise what is important to me, what matters to us as a family, and how I should move forward. When I talk about responsibility, I don't want my daughters to grow up thinking that their mother gave up on her dreams. Instead, I want them to see that I followed my dreams while raising them alongside. Through my journey, I also want women to know that motherhood does not mean the end of their aspirations. (Photo: Instagram)

If you stop dreaming, it becomes difficult to teach your daughters to dream as well. And for that, you need to become that example yourself. Follow your own path and you will realise that it is extremely rewarding. That's what our children really want. They don't need a mother who is present all the time but is unhappy, complaining, or carrying resentment. They want a happy mother who creates a space for herself, finds value in her life, and brings that value back home. That is what I am trying to do. (Photo: Instagram)

My mother and Abhinav both step in whenever I am not around. I can say with complete peace of mind that the values I want my children to grow up with are being given to them by Abhinav. In the same way, my mother is also raising them with the values and upbringing we believe in. This is very important because family is my biggest priority right now. Abhinav has a lot of respect for the fact that my mother gives so much of her time to our daughters. He stands firmly by her and says, 'Until Rubina comes back, I will take care of everything.' (Photo: Instagram)

Abhinav understands how important time and presence are for our daughters and makes sure they never strongly feel my absence. My role and presence are equally supported by my husband. They are always told that mama is at work and that she will be back soon. Both of them make a conscious effort to ensure that the children never feel that their mother is missing from the family. (Photo: Instagram)

Of course, that feeling is there. Less than a month after my daughters were born, I had to leave home to promote my film. I still remember walking through the airport—it felt incredibly heavy. I didn't fully understand what I was going through. My chest felt heavy, I had a headache, and I found myself crying for no reason. Even a day before leaving, I was talking to Abhinav and telling him that I didn't feel like going. It felt like a punch in the gut, and I was emotionally struggling with the idea of being away from my babies. Abhinav told me that I had to take the first step and that what I was feeling was natural. He said it was nature's way of reminding me that I was leaving my children, but I would have to find a balance. (Photo: Instagram)

It wasn't easy the first time, and it wasn't easy the second time either. I won't pretend that I walked out of the house without any difficulty. Staying away from my daughters for four or five days because of work was very tough. But with time and repeated efforts, I realised that this is part of the sacrifice. It is easy to stay at home with your children, where your mind and body feel comfortable and at peace. But then you also have to think about how you will continue building your career. These are the challenges that come with motherhood, and we have to be strong enough to face them. (Photo: Instagram)