'Why are only mothers asked this?': Surveen Chawla on motherhood-work balance and keeping daughter Eva away from the spotlight
Surveen Chawla shares her views on balancing motherhood and career, emphasizing the support system that enables working mothers. She prioritizes her daughter's privacy, shielding her from the public eye. Surveen advocates for recognizing Indian cinema as a unified entity, transcending regional labels, and acknowledges the positive impact of cross-industry collaborations.
Surveen Chawla
is refreshingly candid—whether it's on motherhood, guarding her daughter Eva's privacy, or calling out gendered double standards in the industry. In this exclusive chat with ETimes, the actor opened up about work-life balance, her views on Indian cinema beyond regional labels, and the role that marked a turning point in her career.
Excerpts...
Balancing motherhood with a demanding career is challenging. How do you manage this equilibrium?
There is nothing to manage. I don't know why mothers get asked this question. I mean, if you're working, I'm sure there is a structure and a system back home. I have one. And if you're going to be working, for working women especially, I think there is always a village who's taking care of life back at home, whether it's home or your child. And it's a question that needs to be asked of both genders to maintain the equilibrium.
I think we're all multitaskers, especially women. We're built that way. And I think a lot of credit goes to us that we can manage this very flawlessly and seamlessly. I don't think that there is any great effort that needs to be put into managing children. Children grow up—they grow up seeing parents, whether their mother or their father, working all day—and they learn and they adapt. Especially when you have family back home.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Here's A List Of Cheapest Steel Suppliers (See List)
Steel Suppliers | search ads
Search Now
Undo
So I'd love to give the credit to our partners or our family members who are always supporting, always taking charge, and stepping up when we're at work. So kudos to them.
Your daughter, Eva, is growing up in the public eye. How do you ensure her privacy and well-being?
Well, my daughter Eva is not in the public eye, and I choose to do that for obvious reasons—I'd like to keep that private. She's honestly pretty clueless about the impact, as a public figure, I would have on people around—good or bad. She doesn't understand the concept of being a public figure or a celebrity, so she just knows I go to work.
Sometimes she sees my work—parts of it—that are age-appropriate, and I tell her that.
So far, she's not really questioned me. She considers it to be just my work, and I'd like to normalize that. The fame and the fortune that come with it are for us to experience and have nothing to do with my child. Neither has she earned it, nor does she really need to know the perils that come with it. So yeah, I try to keep her away. I don't post about her.
I must have done that initially, but then sense prevailed, and I've chosen to keep my private life—especially my child—extremely private and all to myself.
You've portrayed a diverse range of characters. Which role has been the most challenging, and why?
You know, strangely, it's very difficult to answer this question— which role has been my favorite. I think my choice, or the roles that have gotten to me, have always been the ones that are challenging. Probably that's why I'm doing them. But I think every character comes with its own challenges, and to really pinpoint any one would be very difficult—extremely difficult.
Maybe for me, one turning point in my journey as an actor was Parched—having such a liberating experience as an actor on that film, I think, was a big turning point in my internal discussion as an actor and my internal journey.
So yeah, maybe.
The Indian film industry has seen a surge in content across various languages. How do you perceive the growing influence of South Indian cinema?
You know, it's not really about the South Indian industry—I'd rather not call it that. It's the Indian film industry. I would hate to label it as the South Indian film industry or the North Indian film industry, or even Bollywood or Tollywood.
It's strange that we're still using those terms. You can clearly see there's been a massive influence and a strong crossover happening in both directions. What this has done is increase audience footfall in theatres, especially when actors from across the country are involved.
There's more viewership, a wider audience base, and more tickets being sold because there's a fan following nationwide. These crossovers are definitely beneficial. That's what we're witnessing—not just in numbers, but in cultural exchange too. So it's a win-win. I truly believe we should start referring to it as Indian cinema, rather than dividing it into categories like Bollywood, Tollywood, or by region. That's one important point I'd like to highlight in response to your question.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Rob Gronkowski shocks fans with unexpected hockey skills at Fanatics Fest NYC
Photo byfor Fanatics It turns out Rob Gronkowski doesn't just dominate the football field—he's got a pretty mean slapshot too. The four-time Super Bowl champion showed off his surprising hockey skills at Fanatics Fest NYC on Friday, trading his football cleats for a hockey stick in front of a packed crowd. Known for his larger-than-life personality and raw athleticism, Gronkowski gave fans something new to cheer for as he stepped up for the NHL washer-dryer shooting challenge—famously inspired by Sidney Crosby's childhood drills. The tight end-turned-media personality proved he hasn't lost his competitive edge, even in retirement. NFL superstar Rob Gronkowski dominates viral hockey challenge at Fanatics Games 2025 in NYC, landing slapshots in Crosby-inspired target drill and shocking fans When Rob Gronkowski grabbed a hockey stick on Friday, June 20, at Fanatics Fest NYC, the atmosphere instantly shifted. The former Patriots and Buccaneers star took on the NHL booth's slapshot challenge—featuring a washer-dryer style target board—and reminded fans that his athletic talents go far beyond football. Armed with 10 pucks and his signature grin, Gronkowski hit the top target twice and nailed the lower one five times. It was an impressive showing, especially for someone who hasn't traded hits on the ice since his childhood days in upstate New York. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens A Week Later! [Video] getfittoday Undo 'My wrist is hurting,' Gronkowski said with a laugh after his turn at the challenge. '45 points? Wow, that is not bad at all.' The event was part of the Fanatics Games, a high-stakes sports showdown taking place over the weekend. Featuring 50 athletes and celebrities matched with 50 fans, the competition spans eight events across multiple sports—including football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. The stakes? First place gets $1 million in cash, second drives off in a Ferrari 812 GTS, and third walks away with a graded LeBron James rookie card, recently valued at a cool $250,000. Friday's event wasn't Gronkowski's first run at the hockey setup—he also gave it a go during last year's Fanatics Fest. This time around, he brought even more energy, even tossing a playful check at a fellow attendee before stepping off the mini rink. Gronkowski's appearance added star power to an already stacked lineup at Fanatics Games, where other household names like Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, Kevin Durant, Jayden Daniels, and Alex Rodriguez were also slated to compete. While Gronk is no longer suiting up on Sundays, moments like this remind everyone why he remains a fan favorite—equal parts competitor and entertainer. Rob Gronkowski continues to entertain and impress at Fanatics Fest NYC Rob Gronkowski may have left the gridiron behind, but his passion for sport still burns bright. Whether catching touchdowns or sniping targets with a hockey stick, he continues to thrill crowds with his infectious energy and all-around athleticism. At Fanatics Fest NYC, Gronk once again proved he's more than just a football legend—he's an all-around sports icon who knows how to have fun while still competing at a high level. And judging by the cheers in the arena, fans wouldn't have it any other way. Also Read: Brad Marchand torches Edmonton Oilers in game 5 as Florida Panthers move one win from Stanley Cup redemption Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Mint
35 minutes ago
- Mint
Meet Shubh, the second Punjabi artiste after Diljit Dosanjh to grace Billboard Canada and sell out North American arenas
Shubh, the India-born, Brampton-based Punjabi singer, has made history by becoming the second Indian and second Punjabi artiste to appear solo on the cover of Billboard Canada. The only other Indian artist to receive this honour is global icon Diljit Dosanjh. This milestone marks a turning point not just for Shubh, but for Punjabi music worldwide. It signals a growing global appreciation for regional Indian sounds, with Shubh at the forefront of this movement. Coinciding with his Billboard feature, Shubh is set to begin his debut North American tour this August. The tour will begin at Oakland Arena on August 22, followed by Vancouver's Rogers Arena on August 23, and a major show at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena on September 5 - a stage once graced by legends like Eminem. The tour wraps up at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on September 7. 'I never expected this,' Shubh says about the arena tour. 'But I'm very happy that we're performing in arenas.' He also recalls his first concert in 2023 at Indigo at the O2 in London. 'My voice was shaking,' he admits. 'I was very hyped up, but it also humbled me down.' Earlier this year, Shubh released 'Sicario', a 10-track album that debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. The album, with over 250 million streams, blends Punjabi lyrics with modern hip-hop. Tracks like 'Buckle Up' and 'Aura' highlight his versatility. Following Sicario, his single Supreme became a viral hit. It debuted on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, hit No. 1 on Apple Music India and Canada, and continues to stream over 1 million times a day on Spotify. Shubh's rise shows that Punjabi music is not only thriving but going global.
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Promo of first single 'Sailore' from Anushka Shetty, Vikram Prabhu's 'Ghaati' released
The makers of director Krish Jagarlamudi 's eagerly-awaited action thriller 'Ghaati', featuring actors Anushka Shetty and Vikram Prabhu in the lead, on Friday released a promo for the first single from the film, 'Sailore', much to the delight of fans and film buffs. Actress Anushka Shetty took to her X timeline to share the link to the promo. She wrote, "#Ghaati First Single #Sailore promo out now and looking forward to sharing our song with all of you tomorrow at 3:33 PM. A @NagavelliV musical. #Ghaati GRAND RELEASE WORLDWIDE ON JULY 11th. #GhaatiFromJuly11th. Starring @iamVikramPrabhu. Directed by the phenomenal @DirKrish. Proudly produced by @UV_Creations & @FirstFrame_Ent. Music on @adityamusic." The rhythmic number called Sailore has lyrics by director Krish Jagarlamudi and has been rendered by Lipsika Bhashyam, Sagar Nagavelli and Sony Komanduri in the music of Sagar Nagavelli. The film, which has triggered huge expectations among fans and film buffs, is slated to hit screens on July 11 this year. Presented by UV Creations and produced by Rajeev Reddy and Sai Babu Jagarlamudi, 'Ghaati' is the second collaboration between Anushka Shetty and director Krish, following the success of their blockbuster film 'Vedam'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Sivakarthikeyan will not feature in the 'Beast' promo Interestingly, the film will be Anushka's fourth film with UV Creations. The makers have already disclosed that Tamil actor Vikram Prabhu plays the male lead character Desi Raju in the film. In a glimpse video that was released on the occasion of Vikram Prabhu's birthday earlier this year, Vikram is seen being chased by the police through dense forests and rugged ghat areas. What follows is a series of intense action sequences where he takes on goons. The action-packed sequences end with a lighter, romantic touch as Vikram and Anushka share a meaningful, yet subtle moment riding their bikes side by side, flashing smiles at each other, suggesting a powerful chemistry between their characters. The glimpse has given the impression that the film will not only contain high-octane action sequences but also a compelling love story. The tagline "Victim, Criminal, Legend" speaks of the film's unique narrative, one that explores the fine lines between good and evil, survival and morality. 'Ghaati' promises to be an intense journey into the darker realms of human nature, where characters must confront their pasts, make impossible choices, and ultimately seek redemption. Cinematographer Manojh Reddy Katasani will bring to life the world of 'Ghaati' with his striking visuals, while Nagavelli Vidya Sagar's music will seek to amplify its intense mood. Art direction for the film is by National Award winner Thota Tharrani and editing is by Chanakya Reddy Toorupu and Venkat N Swamy. With Sai Madhav Burra contributing sharp dialogues, the film promises to engage audiences with its powerful storytelling. Set to release in multiple languages including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi, Ghaati is slated for a grand release on July 11 this year.
