05 September,2026 04:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Bipasha Basu and Devi (Pictures via Instagram)
Bipasha Basu has opened up about the intense trolling she faced after welcoming her daughter, Devi, at the age of 40. In a recent conversation with Elle, the actor spoke candidly about the unrealistic expectations placed on women after childbirth and how insensitive paparazzi pictures added to the pressure she already felt to "bounce back."
Bipasha pointed out how society continues to hold women to unrealistic standards when it comes to their bodies. "The conversation around women's bodies is quite bizarre even now," she said, explaining that women are often expected to regain the bodies they had in their twenties immediately after giving birth, regardless of their age or circumstances.
"Magically, when you give birth, you are supposed to get back into the shape of your twenties even when you are in your forties," Bipasha said. She recalled experiencing severe trolling after Devi's birth, including instances where paparazzi clicked what she described as "really bizarre pictures" of her.
According to the actor, such scrutiny overlooks the physical and emotional demands of motherhood. "They don't see how much effort the woman must be putting in, how much they have to do with a baby, with their life, with their lifestyle and also their personal pressures," she said, adding that society simply expects women to recover and return to their previous appearance.
Despite the criticism, Bipasha said she has not allowed trolling to affect her confidence. "I'm an extremely confident person, so no kind of trolling can break me," she stated. She added that she understands her own journey and knows when she needs to put in the work, choosing not to let "outside noise" dictate her choices.
Bipasha also reflected on growing older and said she refuses to feel pressured into looking younger than her age. Calling ageing "the biggest sin that you can commit," she said she actually likes the person she is today more than who she was in her twenties. She credited her parents for their genes and said she is proud of growing older naturally.
The actor further described motherhood as one of the most transformative experiences of her life. "I'm not the same person I used to be after giving birth to Devi," she said, calling it "the most amazing thing" she has ever done.
Bipasha added that watching her daughter experience everyday moments has allowed her to see the world with "absolutely fresh eyes," reminding her to appreciate the beauty and importance of even life's smallest moments.
