Bollywood actress, Raveena Tandon became a mother at the age of 21, after she adopted her cousins' daughters, Pooja and Chaya who were 8 and 11 respectively. She got married to her businessman husband, Anil Thadani, on February 22, 2004, in traditional Punjabi and Sindhi-style weddings. Currently, Raveena Tandon and her husband, Anil Thadani are parents to four children, Rasha, Pooja, Chaya, and Ranbirvardhan.
In an interview with Zoom, Raveena Tandon opened up about her decision to adopt two girls, Pooja and Chaya and revealed the challenges and criticism she faced for her decision. Raveena broke stereotypes by becoming a single mother back in 1995 and was trolled for the same. Recalling the time, the actress shared that one article had claimed that Pooja and Chaya were her hidden children and added:
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“Whenever you do something, there will always be these trolls or someone will make some sexist remark, trying to create controversies out of nothing. I remember one article even saying that these must be her (Raveena’s) hidden children, which she must have had out of wedlock. When I was 21, they were eight and 11. So, when did I have them? When I was 11 or 12? Trolling happens even today… Anything you do, there will be trolling. I say you shouldn’t pay attention to these people.”
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The actress further mentioned how she was judged for adopting two daughters at the age of 21 and shared that some aunties were worried about her marriage. Reflecting on the same, Raveena revealed that she had placed a condition in front of Anil Thadani when she started dating him and told him that she comes with her entire gang and he would have to love her daughters as well. Raveena added:
“Some ‘well-meaning’ aunties asked who will marry me now, because I come with excess baggage. I was like, whoever loves me will love me, my girls, my dogs, my cat, and whoever I come with. I come with my entire gang, that’s what I told him (Anil).”
Raveena further broke her silence about her decision to adopt Pooja and Chaya and revealed what inspired her to do so. Talking about the same, the actress shared that she had motherly instincts since the beginning and whenever she used to visit any orphanage, she would want to take a baby home. However, she added that when she saw her cousin's kids not getting the good life that they deserved, she decided to adopt them. Raveena said:
“Sometimes I feel like I was born to be a mother. Every time I went with my mom to orphanages, when she used to be helping other NGOs, I used to see these little babies and I always wanted to bring a baby home. When I came off the legal age, I saw my cousin’s kids not getting the kind of lives they should have had as, unfortunately, their parents were no more. And I thought, I keep doing this for other NGOs, but here are two children whom I have seen born in front of me. I felt like it was time they got a better life. So, I got them home. So, the minute I turned 21, I became their legal guardian.”
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When the actress was asked about how she adapted to the changes that she went through after embracing motherhood in the 90s and 2000s, the actress mentioned that Pooja and Chaya were eight and 11 when they came to her. She added that she had to deal with their teenage, rebellious phase as they used to argue and fight with her. However, she ended up being very good friends with them. In her words:
“I think it all depends on the way you bring up your kids. If you keep putting it in their head that there is a generation gap and such things, stuff won’t work. There were so many things that my mom used to tell me… then I started telling these things to Pooja and Chaya. Now, they have Rasha and Ranbir. So, Pooja and Chaya are now telling these things to Rasha and Ranbir. Then I see Rasha saying these things to Rudra and Jaden. So, it has passed through generations and I hope that we can keep that quality of upbringing amongst our line of family.”
What are your views about Raveena Tandon's revelations?
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