Anita Hassanandani opens up about her emotional journey on Chhoriyan Chali Gaon, revealing how her family’s love and support helped her face the challenge of being away from her son. Full story inside.
Anita Hassanandani, Indian Television’s sweetheart, took a leap by joining the reality show Chhoriyan Chali Gaon, which takes urban women away from urban life and puts them into rural India. While Anita is so popularly known as the glamorous heroine in shows such as Naagin and Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, this new chapter in her life sheds a deeply personal and emotional light on her character.
A Bold Move: From Glamour to Gaon
Chhoriyan Chali Gaon is not your average reality show. The show gives women, who are (a large majority) often urban celebrities, the opportunity to live as a traditional village woman in India, complete with a limited abode and household duties, and unfamiliar social constructs—all away from their family and in a world of time.
Hassanandani, who is also a mother to her child Aarav, was faced with conflicting emotions far beyond the rustic challenges that Chhoriyan Chali Gaon presented to her. “I knew it would be difficult to leave my son even for a short time, but I also knew that I had to do this for myself,” she said in a no-holds-barred exchange.
The Emotional Battle: Juggling a Career and Parenting
At the center of Anita’s story is a battle that echoes for millions of working mothers across the world: mom guilt.
“Just leaving Aarav for a day is hard. Leaving him for weeks, it really didn’t seem even possible.” The guilt of leaving behind the responsibility of mothering briefly to do something that felt professional consumed Anita; this guilt is one that many modern Indian mothers can relate to.
But this decision also reminds us of an important truth: mothers are human beings with dreams, aspirations, and the right to find themselves again, even if it takes them outside their coHowever, this decision also reminds us of an essential truth: mothers are just as human as their children; they have dreams, aspirations, and needs to rediscover themselves (yes, even if it takes them from home comfort).mfort zones.
The REAL MVPs: Rohit Reddy & Anita’s Mother-in-Law
Behind every strong woman, there is a support structure that is her backbone, even when she has doubted herself. For Anita, the rocks have been her husband Rohit Reddy and her mother-in-law.
Rohit Reddy: A Modern Dad at Work
Rohit hasn’t just been an emotional supporter; while Anita was away, he has taken on the role of full-time parent. From diaper change to story time to mealtime to nap time, Rohit has embraced being a solo parent.
This kind of support is not only commendable—it is essential. In a world in which caregiving is viewed as only a mother’s obligation, the extent of Rohit’s involvement makes a strong statement about co-parenting and equal gender roles.
The Invisible Support: Anita’s Mother-in-Law Anita’s mother-in-law has been an important, if not always visible, part of the team. She has provided support to young Aarav by providing stability and emotional comfort. “Aarav is very close to his dadi, and just knowing that gives me comfort,” said Anita. Her mother-in-law’s soft and nurturing presence has been indispensable in ensuring that Aarav feels safe and loved in Anita’s absence.
Why Chhoriyan Chali Gaon is More than a Reality Show
For Anita and countless others, the show is more than just a challenge; it’s a statement about society’s expectations of women, gender roles, and that Indian women are utterly unforgiving in their will to succeed at whatever it is they undertake.
What the show represents:
Empowerment: Inspiring women to lean into discomfort and reclaim their own identities.
Awareness: Exposing rural India to urban living rooms.
Reflection: Making visible the emotional labor that women, particularly mothers, endure.
Media insights show that Chhoriyan Chali Gaon has gained 23% more female viewers in the 25-45 age range since its premiere, which is powerful evidence that its message is hitting home.
Anita’s Learning: Growth Beyond the Screen
Anita’s involvement is not about competition. It is about growing as a person. “I learned something from each day- and I learned patience, gratitude, and simplicity,” she remarked on a voice note that was aired on the show.
Her experience also gives rise to conversations that really matter:
How do Indian women effectively juggle ambition and motherhood without guilt?
How do families provide active allies in a woman’s growth?
Are we as a society actually evolving in how we view working mothers?
Real-life examples of celebrity moms busting the mold
- Anita is not alone. Many Indian celebrity mothers are conquering similar emotional territories.
Kareena Kapoor Khan returned to… filming Veere Di Wedding months after giving birth to Taimur.
Neha Dhupia had published her podcast about motherhood only after becoming a mom herself.
Anushka Sharma has discussed many times about her commitment to raising her daughter equally. - There is a third aspect of all of these women using their platforms to change the narrative of being a mother in today’s India, of which Anita is now one of.
An Inspiring Journey
Anita Hassanandani’s journey in Chhoriyan Chali Gaon is more than a few weeks of reality television; it honors the determination of modern Indian women and the love of family that supports them. Anita’s willingness to confront emotional vulnerability and to push through discomfort was inspiring and relatable.
FAQs
- What is Chhoriyan Chali Gaon?
It is a reality television show in which urban women go to a village and live a traditional lifestyle without modern comforts, and they do this without the benefit of family. - Why did Anita Hassanandani do it?
Anita wanted to prove to herself that she was capable of thriving outside of her comfort zone, although she was going through a very emotional stage of separation from her son. - Who is looking after Anita’s son, Aarav?
Her husband Rohit Reddy and her mother-in-law share responsibilities looking after Aarav when Anita is away. - Is Chhoriyan Chali Gaon scripted?
While certain things are acted out as a production for television, the participants’ emotional journeys are real and unscripted. - How long will it run for?
The format of the show tends to last a few weeks, but every season seems to have altered formats. - Where can I watch it?
Chhoriyan Chali Gaon will be available on [insert channel/platform name here].