Juhi Chawla Asked Sadhguru A Question Many Mothers Still Ask: Can Career And Motherhood Coexist?

Mumbai: Can a woman have a successful career, earn her own money and still be there for her children? It sounds like a very modern question, but actor Juhi Chawla was asking it more than a decade ago.

During a conversation with spiritual leader Sadhguru, Chawla raised a question that many working mothers can relate to even today Can motherhood and a career really go hand in hand?

Sadhguru’s response was not simply about telling women to choose one over the other. Instead, he questioned why earning a salary is often seen as a bigger achievement than raising a family.

He said women should be free to work if they want to, but pointed out that looking after children is also a serious responsibility. According to him, motherhood should not be dismissed as “just being a housewife” because it does not come with a pay cheque.

He also shared a personal example while explaining his point. Sadhguru spoke about his own mother and the role she played in his upbringing. He credited the environment she created at home as an important part of the person he eventually became.

The point, however, was not that women should give up their careers. Sadhguru acknowledged that women may need to work for financial reasons or may simply want a profession of their own. His larger argument was that a woman’s contribution should not be judged only by how much money she brings home.

That conversation feels particularly familiar today. Working mothers are still expected to manage demanding jobs, childcare, household responsibilities and, often, the pressure to do everything perfectly.

Chawla has also spoken about her own experience of balancing work and family. Her acting career has continued over the years, but she has often described herself as someone who places great importance on her home and children.

What makes the old conversation stand out today is how little the basic question has changed. Women still find themselves asking whether pursuing a career means sacrificing precious time with their children or whether motherhood means putting their own ambitions on hold.

Perhaps the answer is not about choosing between the two. It is about giving women the freedom to decide what works for their own lives, without making them feel guilty for whichever path they choose.

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