#TheSuperMoms Priyanka Sarkar: With Shohoj around me, life has never been better

A mother knows best! There are so many celebrities who are proud to be doting moms to their adorable little ones. While balancing careers in showbiz, these ladies are raising their children striking the right balance between work and personal life and making it look all too easy.
This Mother’s Day we start a new series raising a toast to all those celebrity moms out there.In our first episode, we present the bubbly actress Priyanka Sarkar who strikes the right note of being a single mother and a successful actress in Tollywood.
Leaving behind the much-talked-about failed marriage with actor Rahul Banerjee, and as the doting mother of a 8-year-old son, Priyanka Sarkar now juggles her responsibilities as a mother and an actress with equal elan. The bubbly actress has impressed the audience with her performances in films like ‘Crisscross’, ‘Byomkesh Gotro’, 'Rajkahini' to name a few. She’s ready to embrace life as a single mother with higher spirits and better work. In a candid chat with ETimes, Priyanka talks about life as a single mother, her son Shohoj, balancing between career and life and more.

Yes, I try to be a hands-on mother. I always look to involve myself in all his works. Who can figure out what Shohoj needs better than me? I still remember there was a time when I used to be over-possessive of my son. I even wouldn't let anyone touch him, but that madness has changed now. My way of seeing things has changed also. I am much more disciplined these days. I am more systematic now. Frankly speaking, when I am not shooting I can't even stay awake after 11 pm now! Also, how can I teach Shohoj discipline if don’t have it in my life? Who wants to raise a spoiled brat? Another positive thing after motherhood is my reputation is always on the good side. The directors who once hesitated to cast me are now happy to see that Priyanka is at her best.
Your latest release is a children's drama. How Shohoj has reacted to it?
Yes, we don't get to see films like 'Kolkatar Harry' which can entertain children as well too often. For the last few months I was waiting for a film which I can show Shohoj in theatres. Which film will be ideal for a 8-year-old and his mother? This film is one such film which can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Because of the pandemic, for the last two years, kids have been stuck at home without knowing what exactly happening outside. They couldn't play with friends, couldn't interact with them. Everything is needed for the mental growth. So, this film is our gift to all those children who suffered the worst during the pandemic.
Shohoj hasn't seen any of my films in cinema halls so far. 'Kolkatar Harry' is the first one. When I started the film I had shared the story with him and he was pretty much excited. He knows I love Harry Potter. So he was curious.

For me, motherhood became a blessing in my career . Srijit Mukherji's Rajkahini, Atanu Ghosh's Abby Sen, Arindam Sil's Swadhe Aladhe – all these were my comeback films. There was stopping. I was getting offers almost regularly. I feel lucky that as an actress I received a wide range of roles. I am more serious and ambitious about my work now. It feels great to see myself as a doting mother and at the same time, an actress playing challenging characters with elan. I'll be dishonest to myself if I concentrate only on my career and not on my family. Motherhood has never been a career spoiler for me. I've always believed that I will get offers if I have talent and not because of my relationship status. It did work for me. I am happy to see my career growth.

I moved out when Sohoj was only two and with my family and friends supporting me I feel I am doing a great job as a mom. You won’t believe now I always make sure my phone’s battery is fully charged since Sohoj asks me about solar system and galaxies and I can’t always give the answers on my own. But I am not skeptical about marriage again. See, I don’t think too much about my past. We make mistakes only to learn from them. I treasure the good times and learn from the bad times.


I wasted myself in the past on what I shouldn’t have done. There was a time when I rejected too many good offers. But I have learned from my failed marriage that never ignore work since only that will always stay with you. I will now give work priority over any possibilities of a relationship. I have also figured out how to live the moment, be a better judge of others, and to raise my voice if I am not respected enough.