I was back on a film set two months after giving birth: Milana Nagaraj

Four-and-a-half months after welcoming her baby, Milana Nagaraj is back on set and has already completed the film's first schedule. “Having worked non-stop since entering the Kannada Film Industry, I didn’t overthink how I would choose my projects or position myself due to motherhood. But, I was offered a film soon after giving birth, and just two months after Pari was born, I was back on set, shooting for a film.” The film, titled Bella, is directed by Jaishankar Pandit, who previously helmed 21 Hours with Dhananjay. “What made this project even more special was that it features a pet in the lead—and as a huge pet lover, that was reason enough for me to say yes,” she adds.

'I have not done a film in this genre in the past'Milana admits that Bella came her way at an unexpected time. “I had told myself I would go with the flow after motherhood, so when this project was offered to me, it was a pleasant surprise. I gave it a lot of thought and realized that when work comes to you in such an unexpected twist, you might as well embrace it.”Thankfully, her family—including her in-laws, parents, and husband Krishna—were extremely supportive of her decision. “Since I had a C-section, I took it easy for the first couple of weeks. Then, I shot for an advertisement. Even during pregnancy, I was involved in movie promotions and worked with Krishna on Love Mocktail 3. We’ll resume that project once I wrap up Bella and Krishna finishes his two current commitments.”

'I request new moms to not feel guilty'Milana understands the challenges of balancing work and family, especially for new mothers. “In today’s world, most women are working, and there’s always pressure to maintain a work-life balance. Whether they choose to work or stay home, they often feel guilty. What I want to tell them is—whatever you choose, enjoy it. Don’t feel bad about making a choice.”