Actor Sushmita Sen recently spoke about the backlash that came her way after she adopted her elder daughter, Renee, when she was just 24. She also revealed in a recent interview that even her manager fled during that time, saying that it is career suicide.

Sushmita Sen recalls embracing motherhood at the peak of her career

Speaking to NDTV, Sushmita went on to reveal how everyone had doubts about whether she'd continue being a successful heroine after becoming a mother. She said that she chose to embrace motherhood as a single woman, which came at the peak of her career, and that the response from parts of the film industry was unsupportive. She further revealed how she was told that she wouldn't get lead roles, but also highlighted how some of her biggest hits happened only after she became a mother.

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Recalling that period, Sushmita said, "My manager ran away," talking about the reaction to her adopting Renee. She also revealed that her manager had told her, "You're not serious about your career, and I can't represent someone who's a mother at 24." She also said that this move would mean she'd be pushed into 'character roles' only and wouldn't get leading parts anymore.

The actress, however, believes that motherhood strengthened her. "After I became a mother, I gave my biggest hits," she added. After adopting Renee in 2000, she has worked in films like Aankhen, Main Hoon Na and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya. She's also worked in OTT series Aarya and the biographical drama Taali.