Actor Parineeti Chopra has raised an important question about parenting expectations: why are mothers often expected to reorganise their entire lives after having a child, while fathers are allowed to carry on as before? The actor, who welcomed her son with politician and husband Raghav Chadha in October 2025, has spoken about the need for both parents to take equal responsibility for raising a child.In an interview with Gulf News, Parineeti challenged the idea that a mother should automatically become the primary caregiver. She explained that she and Raghav do not believe parenting should fall predominantly on one person, arguing that a child’s upbringing is a shared responsibility rather than a role assigned mainly to the mother. Her comments bring attention to a familiar debate in many households, where mothers are expected to balance childcare, household responsibilities and professional commitments, while fathers may face fewer expectations to make similar adjustments.

‘Why is the mother the default parent?’

Parineeti questioned why society continues to place the greater burden of parenting on mothers, even when both parents are equally responsible for bringing up a child. “The majority of this world thinks that the mother is the default parent and the only parent or the one that has to make all the changes in her life, as if the father had nothing to do with this child,” she said.The actor pointed out that although both parents are involved in a child’s life, the practical expectations placed on them can be very different. Mothers are often expected to adjust their routines, careers and personal priorities around their children, while fathers may be viewed as secondary caregivers. “The child is 50-50 between the parents, right? But somehow, in our society, we have normalised just the mother doing all of it. And all the changes that must happen after a baby happen only to the mother, and the father becomes the visiting parent,” she added.Her remarks challenge the assumption that a mother should naturally take charge of most childcare duties simply because she gave birth. Instead, Parineeti believes that parenting expectations need to change so both partners are actively involved in the child’s everyday life.

Why fathers must step up after a baby’s arrival

Parineeti acknowledged that pregnancy, childbirth, feeding and postpartum recovery place physical demands on mothers that fathers do not experience in the same way. However, she stressed that this difference should not become a reason for fathers to remain less involved in raising their children. “A father biologically may be behind in the motherhood process because he is not doing the pregnancy and then feeding and the postpartum, but he is very much the soldier behind all,” she said.Her observation highlights the distinction between the physical experience of motherhood and the shared responsibilities that follow a child’s birth. While mothers may need time to recover from childbirth and adjust to the demands of caring for a newborn, fathers can support them by taking an active role in childcare and family life. This involvement, according to Parineeti’s broader argument, should not be limited to helping when asked. Fathers are also parents and should be expected to participate in the daily responsibilities of bringing up a child.

‘Parenthood has to be what works for that couple’

The actor also emphasised that there is no single formula that every family must follow. What matters, she suggested, is that couples decide how to manage parenting based on their circumstances rather than allowing social expectations to dictate their roles. “I just hope that at least effort-wise and intention-wise the roles are not tipped only in favour of the mother taking over everything. Parenthood has to be what works for that couple, and society cannot dictate,” Parineeti said.Her comments underline the importance of communication and mutual support between partners. Families may divide responsibilities differently depending on work schedules, personal circumstances and the needs of the child. However, that arrangement should be a conscious decision between the parents, rather than an expectation that the mother will automatically shoulder most of the burden.

Parineeti’s return to work after becoming a mother

Parineeti and Raghav welcomed their son, Neer, in October 2025. During her pregnancy, the actor took time away from work as she prepared for motherhood and adjusted to the demands of a major change in her personal life. She has since returned to acting with two OTT releases, Shaq: Trust No One and Reporting Live, marking her comeback after a break from the screen.Her recent comments also draw attention to the challenges working mothers can face when balancing professional ambitions with the expectations surrounding childcare. Taking time off during pregnancy and returning to work after childbirth can involve significant adjustments, but Parineeti’s argument is that these changes should not be treated as the mother’s responsibility alone. By questioning why mothers are automatically considered the default parents, the actor has called for a more balanced approach to raising children, one in which fathers are recognised as equally responsible caregivers and couples are free to decide what works best for their families.