Anushka Sharma speaks about the media attention on her to-be born baby, being able to hide their pregnancy initially, Virat Kohli’s paternity leaves and the division of responsibilities.
The moment you hear the positive ‘good news’ of your life, it floods you with emotions. Having a baby changes a lot for the couple and there’s a lot to consider during the pregnancy before you welcome a little human being in your life. On how to stay healthy during pregnancy, charting a birth plan, educating yourself with childbirth and childcare books and classes, eliminating toxins in your life, division of responsibilities, baby-proofing the house, shopping for the baby, decorating the nursery, learning about postpartum depression and what not; to-be parents have an unending list to look upon. But for celeb couples, one major issue needs their consideration and that is to decide how to manage baby and media. Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli too, have made their decision on the same and the former revealed it in an interview. (Also Read: Anushka Sharma Reveals How Baby's Themed-Nursery Would Connect Little One To Big Part Of Their Lives)
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have always been extremely private about their personal life, right from the time when they were dating. Anushka and Virat perfectly balanced keeping their private life away from the media limelight but at the same time, being by each other’s side as cheerleaders for their professional achievements, praising one another in interviews and standing against the world to support their partner. And how can we forget their secret wedding in Italy back in 2017? If there’s any couple in the entertainment industry, who had perfectly managed to keep their personal life away from the limelight, then it has to be Virat and Anushka. Now that baby Virushka is on its way, needless to say, Virat and Anushka’s fans and media are excited about another celeb baby to drool over.
Remember on What Women Want, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shamila Tagore had expressed their concern on the media attention on Taimur Ali Khan and the latter had said that once Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma will have a child, baby Tim will be relegated? Media attention on babies concerns every celeb parent but looks like Virat and Anushka have already made a decision on the same. In an interview with the Vogue, Anushka spoke about the media attention on her to-be born baby, being able to hide their pregnancy because of the lockdown, Virat’s paternity leaves and the division of responsibilities once their little one arrives.
To begin with, Anushka Sharma revealed that her parents are extremely honest and very hard-working, the attributes that Virat Kohli shares as well. On how they want to nurture their child and not raise brats, Anushka said, “There are so many similarities in the way we are as people and the way we approach life. So, I do think that will work for us. I’ve been thinking about it before I even became a parent. Conditioning is the most important role in how we see the world. I come from a progressive background, so that will always be a part of our home. Love is the underlying factor in our home, and what’s important to us is that our child be respectful of people. You have to create that value structure. We don’t want to raise brats.”
Unequivocal about retaining a sense of normalcy and privacy, Anushka Sharma continued, “We’ve thought about it a lot. We definitely do not want to raise a child in the public eye—we don’t plan on engaging our child in social media. I think it’s a decision your child should be able to take. No kid should be made to be more special than the other. It’s hard enough for adults to deal with it. It’s going to be difficult, but we intend to follow through.” Speaking of how the last few months have been, Anushka added, “We’re all used to it now, no? It feels somewhat normal to stay indoors. But I have had to be a lot more careful. It was good to travel to Dubai and stay in a secure bubble—probably the safest in the world at that time— but yes, I’m only seeing my parents now, and I haven’t met my friends for the longest time.” (Also Read: Virat Kohli And Anushka Sharma's Combined Net Worth, Own A 34 Crore Worth Sea-Facing Home In Mumbai)
But the to-be mommy admitted that at this moment, she is missing a sense of community, the sisterhood that motherhood brings. Anushka Sharma stated, “When you are expecting, you connect with people you never thought you would. Honestly, all the women in my life, not only my close friends, have been so kind, so helpful in reaching out. I do have friends who have babies, but they don’t live in Mumbai, so being able to discuss things—the overwhelming emotions, whether I’m behaving normal or hormonal... For all those questions, you have to have that circle. I think it’s really underrated, that ‘sisterhood’.”
Even in the strangest of times, silver linings do appear. For Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, who have very demanding schedules, the lockdown phase paused their lives and gave them a chance to be together while also allowing them to keep the early months of pregnancy under wraps. Anushka said, “The pandemic has been a weird blessing in a way. Virat was around and I could keep it a secret. We only left to go to the doctor’s clinic. No one was on the streets so we couldn’t be spotted.” Recalling an incident while promoting Bulbbul, when she was felt incredibly nauseous over a Zoom interview, Anushka elaborated, “I quickly turned off my video and messaged my brother, who was also on the call, to stall them for ten minutes. If I had been on set or in a studio, everyone would have known.”
Virat Kohli had applied to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for paternity leaves and he was granted the permission to return to India after the series opener of the India-Australia Test tour. Revealing that they are already developing systems in place that will allow her to get back on-set by April or May while Virat too, will be on paternity leave after the baby’s birth, Anushka Sharma remarked, “Times have changed. It’s important for children to look at parents—they learn from you. And there is a sense of normalcy that both of us do work. Of course, one will have to manage things differently and more efficiently to work.”
On the challenges of balancing a career in overdrive with the demands of parenthood, Anushka Sharma said, “We don’t see it as mum and dad duties, but as a family unit. For us, it’s important that our child be raised with a very balanced outlook. It is all about shared duties. I will be the primary caregiver, especially in the first few years, and that’s the reality. I am self-employed and I can decide when I am working if I do one or two films a year. In Virat’s case, he plays round the year. What becomes important is the time we spend together as a family.” (Also Read: Mira Rajput Kapoor's Little One Makes Her Morning Lovelier With A Priceless Gift And 'I Love You')
We wish Anushka the best last few days of her pregnancy phase!