Sukirti Kandpal: I have frozen my eggs

Almost three years since Kaala Teeka Sukirti Kandpal returns to television with Story 9 Months Ki With the narrative revolving around a single woman who decides to embrace motherhood the actor mdash who enjoyed tremendous success with her past offerings Dill Mill Gaye and Pyaar Ki Ek Kahaani mdash believes the show is a step in the right direction as it challenges the damselindistress stereotypeEdited excerpts from the interviewHow has your process of script selection evolved in the 11 years that separate Pyaar Ki Ek Kahaani and Story 9 Months KiMy process of selecting scripts has always been instinctive I go with my gut feelingOver the years several films have been made on similar subjects How has it been tackled differently in the showIn most cases the story revolves around a couple who cannot get pregnant and opt for IVF or around a young girl who gets pregnant Here Alia her character decides to embrace motherhood as a single woman Since it is a daily soap there will be an extended backstory to explain her motivationsMany shows depict their protagonists as independent women in the beginning but eventually reduce them to damsels in distress Does this story follow the same line of thoughtAlia is not a damsel in distress She is in control of her life and knows what she wants personally and professionally After she learns of her husbands infidelity she walks out of the marriage Most serials would show the woman staying back but we are not succumbing to stereotypesDo you think a realistic tale of a single mother will find takers among the TV audiences who thrive on saasbahu dramasTelevision has a set audience that may find it difficult or novel to see an independent woman doing it all on her own I dont hold the audience responsible because they have been fed a certain kind of narrative for years In contrast the web has a younger audience with a different value system and perspective They would be more welcoming of such opinionsIn our patriarchal society it is often believed that women who decide to have a baby without a partner do so out of loneliness or as a sign of rebellion Your takeWhenever a woman does something unconventional she is regarded as a rebel If she doesnt get married at the right age she is immediately deemed picky or too much to handle no matter how successful she is professionally However if a man chooses to marry late it is because he hasnt found the right woman Personally I dont think I am a rebel I simply do what I want to do I have never cared about what people think In this aspect I am similar to my character AliaWould you consider freezing your eggs Or starting a family without a partnerI have already frozen my eggs But I have not yet considered whether I want to start a family without a partner At the moment my focus is only on my career Bringing a child into this world is a huge responsibility and once I am ready for it I will revisit this question