Tahira Kashyap: 'If someone calls me Ayushmann Khurrana’s wife, I take pride in it'

In her directorial debut Sharmajee Ki Beti, Tahira Kashyap explores the lives of three women - Sakshi Tanwar, Saiyami Kher and Divya Dutta - navigating the delicate balance between their personal and professional worlds.

In the film, Sakshi Tanwar's character, Jyoti Sharma, is a teacher striving to connect with her daughter amidst a hectic schedule. Divya Dutta plays Kiran, who faces a strained relationship with her husband, while Saiyami Kher portrays a cricket enthusiast battling a discouraging boyfriend. These narratives resonate deeply with Tahira, who juggles multiple roles in her own life.

Tahira, a mother, wife, writer, and director, discussed about maintaining individuality and financial independence, even while being perceived as living in the shadow of her husband Ayushmann Khurrana. She told The Indian Express, "Honestly, writing is my work. It is passion-driven but also pays me. It is very important for me to be financially independent and have my own source of income."

Addressing the notion of being seen as merely an extension of her famous husband, Tahira said, "I don’t want to fight if people think I am an extension of Ayushmann Khurrana. I had a big problem with my surname, fighting over whether I am Tahira Kashyap, Tahira Kashyap Khurrana, or Tahira Khurrana. The day I accepted myself and my growth, people started seeing me for who I am. You might think I am an extension of someone, but once you meet me, you’ll see me as Tahira."




Tahira is proud of the relationships in her life, nurtured over years of mutual support and growth. "We have been together since high school, dreaming for each other and being each other’s biggest cheerleaders. If my partner is doing well, it’s my personal victory. If people want to see me as an extension of him, that’s their perception. I have my own journey, and he is equally proud of it. So, if someone calls me Ayushmann’s wife or Viraj and Virushka’s mother, I take pride in it. They are my family, and they are doing well."



Reflecting on her struggles to establish her individuality, Tahira noted that she spent a lot of energy in her 20s trying to prove her uniqueness. She observed that with age comes a greater sense of forgiveness, reducing the need to demarcate individual journeys. Tahira highlighted that their career choices naturally distinguish their paths, with her being a writer-director and Ayushmann an actor. In their personal lives, he assumes the father role, and she takes on the mother role, eliminating the need to create a divide to demand respect.