A baby and pandemic later Sonam Kapoor is ready to set the screen on fire

Graceful, elegant, and poised—the verdict was out for Sonam Kapoor after her debut in Saawariya. She was 16 then. Fast forward to present day, 16 years later, Kapoor is a mother to an adorable five-month-old son, Vayu, and is as charming and her smile is even more infectious. We wonder if she, like other new mothers, has sleepless nights and needs to wake up at odd hours. Yes. she, experiences the same. But she has a solution. We knew she’d have one. 

The actor, in a chat with Bazaar India, spills the beans on what it takes to sleep peacefully. Read on.

Harper’s Bazaar: Sonam, what’s the secret to sound sleep? 

Sonam Kapoor: The secret is to have a peaceful mind, a healthy body, and Vicks ZzzQuil NATURA, occasionally, when you are sleepless. 

HB: What are the things that you absolutely do not skip in order to sleep well? 

SK: I always ensure that I am not on social media an hour before sleeping, I have a shower before hitting the bed, and last, but certainly not the least, I give my son a good night’s kiss. 

HB: What’s on your bedside table that helps you sleep better?

SK: Books.  Currently, I am reading books on parenting. I’m keen to give my son Montessori education and use the principles in his upbringing.

HB: It’s important to believe in the products that you endorse. How much of those products do you use in your real life?

SK: I use it occasionally; when I don’t get any sleep or when I am travelling, jet-lagged, or have a night shoot. It’s just a supplement that’ll help you fall asleep. I wouldn’t use it if it weren’t safe. 

HB: Prior to using the product, how did you manage to sleep peacefully?

SK: I used to chew my husband’s brains. We used to talk endlessly and used to just fall asleep.

HB: What have been the biggest changes in your life after becoming a mother? 

SK: Your entire life changes after becoming a mother. It’s the best thing, honestly. It’s difficult, yet so rewarding. The efforts that you’ve put in life—school, college, your job—it doesn’t compare to the efforts that you put in as a mother, especially if you want to put in that effort. That said, the rewards are also much higher than getting an A+, scoring 90 per cent or getting a raise. Seeing them smile, sleeping soundly, or holding your finger is way more than anything in the world. 

HB: We last saw you in AK vs AK in 2020, and we’ll now be seeing you soon in Blind. There was a huge gap. What do you think has changed in this time? 

SK: Not much has changed. I was 17 when I joined the industry and I am 37 now. It’s the first time in a year or so that I’ve not worked. I might have done a couple of photo shoots, but the break felt good. I felt relaxed and it was a refreshing holiday. I feel that I can come back with renewed energy and as a different person—motherhood does change you. 

HB: What’s the one piece of advice that you’d like to give to expectant mothers?

SK: There are many old wives’ tales about what you can or cannot eat and do during pregnancy. I think it’s very important to exercise—but consult your doctor. Walking, yoga, and breathing exercises are good for you. Don’t have sugar as you can get gestational diabetes. A lot of people will offer you sweets, avoid it. Just take care of yourself and take all the help you can get, even after the delivery. Don’t try to do everything by yourself. There are many women who think and say that they’ll do it themselves. They’ll often say, ‘It’s my baby. I want to do it’, but if your friends and loved ones are ready to help, just take it, for your mental health. And don’t feel guilty about taking help; it doesn’t make you a bad mother in any way. It’s very important for your husband to be there as well.