Waiting for Mr Right: Sushmita Sen

Sushmita Sen has been juggling many roles, that of an actor, a single mother, an entrepreneur and a philanthropist, with ease.

In the city to attend the annual fundraiser of Teach for Change, the actress talks about the city, challenges of being a single mother and daughters Renee and Alisah.

“I was a baby when I left Hyderabad. My father was posted out when I was barely three or four. But I have a lovely connection with Hyderabad. I also went and checked the home I was born in the city,” she says.

Waiting for the right film
It’s been six years since Sushmita acted in a Bollywood film — No Problem in 2010.

“Bollywood will happen in it’s own time. I think a lot of people panic because they think ‘Oh! my time is up, what am I going to do, so many new faces are out there’. But I think you have to have faith in your talent. I am just honing my skills and waiting for the right film. Between my daughters, work commitments, relationships and travelling the amount that I do, doing a film should be worth it,” she says.

Single mom at 24
“There are too many challenges of being a single mother. Children of different age groups (her elder daughter is 16, and the younger six) also have different demands and expectations and you want to meet all of them all the time, which is not possible,”

She continues, “But if you were to ask me, single or not, becoming a mom at 24 was the best decision of my life. When I look around me, I see most moms are single, I am just given way too much credit.”

Sushmita Sen playing with Lakshmi Manchu’s daughter

‘Renee wants to be an actor’
“Renee (her elder daughter) has always been fascinated with acting. She always had a knack for dramatics. After her graduation, she is free to pursue it by all means.”

Teach for Change
Sushmita has always been inclined towards helping society. She has also been working on education through her “I Am” foundation.

Talking about why she decided to support a cause like Teach for Change, Sushmita says, “No matter how much we do as public figures, there is no greater example than an inspiring story like that of Chaitanya’s (founder of Teach for Change).”

She drives her point home by adding, “People don’t need  Sushmita Sen and they don’t need iconic movie stars. We give our voices, yes sure, but the people who actually do the ground work... they are the real heroes.”