The social stigma attached to a woman’s choice to opt for pregnancy after 35 is still prevalent in India. It may be 2024, but women continue to face the pressure to “get settled” and start a family as soon as they approach their mid-twenties. Unfortunately, “Beta abhi shaadi karke bache karlo, baad mein fir kitni mushkil hoti hai, pata hai? Naukri shaukri toh hoti rahegi aage bhi” is a statement that a lot of us are familiar with. But the queens of Bollywood are slowly breaking away from this expectation and having babies when they want to, instead of letting society pressure them into it. Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s recent pregnancy announcement is proof of this.

 

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Here are 11 other Bollywood celebrities who crushed all misconceptions when they became mothers for the first time after the age of 35.

1. Kareena Kapoor Khan

After marrying Saif Ali Khan in 2012, Bebo first became a mother to the nation’s sweetheart, Taimur, at 36. She gave birth to their second son, Jeh, at the age of 40.

2. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

The evergreen beauty queen of Bollywood had her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan at 37.

3. Farah Khan

Choreographer, director, and producer Farah Khan used IVF and conceived triplets at the age of 43. Being the multitalented boss that she is, she continued working throughout her pregnancy.

4. Madhuri Dixit Nene

Yet another Bollywood beauty who is part of the “late” pregnancy league is the stunning Madhuri Dixit. She gave birth to her first son at the age of 37 and had her second at 39.

5. Shilpa Shetty Kundra

This timeless Bollywood beauty, fitness guru, and yoga goddess became a mother to her son Viaan at the age of 37. She opted for surrogacy to have her second child in 2020.

6. Rani Mukerji

After her marriage to filmmaker Aditya Chopra, the versatile Rani Mukerji gave birth to their daughter Adira at 37.

Related: Trying To Get Pregnant? Here’s What You Need To Know About Pre-Conception Nutrition

7. Shreya Ghoshal

Singing sensation Shreya Ghoshal announced her pregnancy during the lockdown when she was 37-years-old. She was blessed with a baby boy, Devyaan.

8. Dia Mirza

Dia Mirza had her first child in 2021 at the age of 40 with her second husband Vaibhav Rekhi. The couple has an adorable baby boy, Avyaan, and are also parents to Samaira, Vaibhav Rekhi’s daughter from his first marriage.

9. Neha Dhupia

Neha Dhupia shattered the stereotypes linking age and pregnancy and had her first child, Mehr, at the age of 38. She also had a baby boy, Guriq, at 41.

10. Kalki Koechlin

Kalki Koechlin gave birth to her daughter Sappho at the age of 37. She opted for a water birth and had her boyfriend, Guy Hershberg, by her side during the process.

11. Sonam Kapoor

Actor Sonam Kapoor gave birth to her son, Vayu, at 36. Not only did she thrive during her pregnancy, Sonam broke the internet with her pregnancy fashion.

And take our word for it when we say that the list is endless. Contrary to popular belief, with today’s medical advancements, pregnancy after 35 doesn’t necessarily come with complications. In fact, an increasing number of women are opting to freeze their eggs to be able to focus on their careers and have kids once they’re ready. At the end of the day, it’s all about a woman’s choice.

Related: Love, Acceptance, And Chill: How Freezing My Eggs Literally Changed My Life

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