From Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Kareena Kapoor Khan: Top 8 Bollywood actresses who are acing work-life balance

A question that often irritates a Bollywood actress who is about to get married is, "Will you continue to work after marriage?" And for the ones who are married, a similar question is asked about them having a baby and managing work.

Actresses like Kareena Kapoor Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have normalised marriage and pregnancy, defying norms and getting back to work full time. Newlyweds like Sonam Kapoor and Anushka Sharma are doing the same. Here's a look at them and some more contemporary actresses in Bollywood who have been working after marriage and inspiring other women.

Also, actress Deepika Padukone is all set to get married to actor Ranveer Singh in 2018 and so is Priyanka Chopra to Nick Jonas. These two former besties will soon join the list of married and successful career women! But for now, here's our list of the Top 8 Married Actresses of Bollywood who are successful at work and in home life.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

After a decent career in Bollywood, the beautiful former Miss World Aishwarya Rai got married to actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007. But there was never talk of her retiring. She continued with acting and her endorsements, and engagements like the Cannes Film Festival. Aishwarya took a break only when she got pregnant with Aaradhya and opted out of Madhur Bhandarkar's film Heroine.

Post pregnancy, Aishwarya was body shamed for her weight but she continued making appearances. She made a comeback (that she refused to call a comeback) in Sanjay Gupta's Jazbaa. But it was in Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil that she mesmerised viewers again, as the older muse to Ranbir Kapoor.

Aishwarya will now be seen in Anil Kapoor's Fanney Khan along with Rajkummar Rao. She is also said to be doing an Anurag Kashyap film with hubby Abhishek.

Kareena Kapoor Khan

The much loved Kareena Kapoor Khan aka Bebo recently caused a splash in Veere Di Wedding. She had been shooting for the film when she got pregnant. Backed by her producer Rhea Kapoor, Kareena took maternity leave and bounced back at work as soon as her cutie pie Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi was born, thereby inspiring many working women.

Kareena maintains her work-life balance very efficiently, always there for her job and also spending substantial time in the gym. She does have help from nannies and a supportive husband in actor Saif Ali Khan. But even with the support, how many women are able to do all that she manages in a day?

Kareena has starred in the biggest movies after her marriage in 2012. Be it the Salman Khan blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Singham Returns, Ki & Ka, Udta Punjab, and Veere Di Wedding, among others. She will now be seen opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the Rakesh Sharma biopic called Salute. She has also reportedly signed a Dharma Productions film opposite Akshay Kumar.

In fact, Kareena's mother-in-law, famous yesteryear actress Sharmila Tagore did a lot of movies after marriage and was very busy in her career even after having three children. Her husband, the famous cricketer Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi was very supportive of it and didn't have any qualms, as revealed by her daughter Soha Ali Khan in her book.

Soha Ali Khan

Taking a cue from her mom Sharmila Tagore and her sister-in-law Kareena Kapoor, Soha Ali Khan is also very much a working mom and wife. Whether it is writing a book or acting, she is out there and open to new offers. Soha Ali Khan was recently seen in a cameo in Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3.

Anushka Sharma

The spunky Anushka Sharma is married to Indian cricket Captain Virat Kohli. The two are one of the most high-profile couples in India and have managed to concentrate on their respective high-stress careers very well - as a married couple and even when they were dating.

Anushka Sharma is also a film producer and her third production Pari released in 2018, after her marriage on December 11, 2017. She was recently seen in a cameo in the hit biopic Sanju, and now will be seen in Yash Raj Films' Sui Dhaaga opposite Varun Dhawan, and opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Anand L Rai's film Zero. Anushka Sharma also owns the clothing line Nush.

Sonam Kapoor

The actor got married to her beau Anand Ahuja on May 8, 2018. Post marriage, she was seen with Kareena Kapoor Khan in Veere Di Wedding, which was her sister Rhea Kapoor's production along with Ekta Kapoor.

Sonam Kapoor also played a part opposite her Saawariya costar Ranbir Kapoor in the biopic Sanju. She was also seen in Padman opposite Akshay Kumar and appreciated for her role. But she may have shot a substantial part of these movies before her wedding. Sonam Kapoor's new movies now include Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and The Zoya Factor.

Madhuri Dixit-Nene

Her charm, her dance moves, her acting and her smile - it was difficult to forget these things about the gorgeous and multi-talented Madhuri Dixit when she got married to US-based Dr Shriram Nene in 1999 and took a break to have kids. But right after marriage, she was seen in Pukar, Lajja, Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, Gaja Gamini and Devdas, among other films.

After a break, Madhuri made a comeback in Aaja Nachle, and is now here for good - back in India as an actor, reality show judge and film producer. She has been since seen in Bucket List, Dedh Ishqiya and Gulaab Gang. She is now producing a Marathi film and will make some Hindi movies, too. Madhuri will be seen in Kalank next, a film that was offered to her after legendary actress Sridevi passed away suddenly in February 24, 2018.

Kajol

Known for her fantastic chemistry with Shah Rukh Khan in much loved films like Baazigar, Karan Arjun, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and her good acting in other movies like Gupt, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Hulchul and more, all this before her marriage in 1999 to actor Ajay Devgn, Kajol did take a break but has continued to work in quality films off and on.

Post marriage, her film Raju Chacha with her husband released, so also Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... with SRK. Thereafter, Kajol was awesome in Fanaa, My Name Is Khan, We Are Family and recently, Dilwale. She also starred with Dhanush in Tamil film VIP 2 in 2017. Her new releases include Helicopter Eela and a cameo in SRK's Zero.

Juhi Chawla

Juhi Chawla charm and innocence in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak is intact but the actress has also been seen in some hard-hitting as well as emotional roles before marriage, winning the Filmfare for QSQT and Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke.

After marriage to Jay Mehta in 1995, Juhi continued to charm us in Yes Boss, Ishq, Jhankaar Beats and Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, among others. She created a different niche in breakthrough and alternative roles in 3 Deewarein, My Brother Nikhil, Bas Ek Pal, I Am, Paheli, Luck By Chance, Gulaab Gang and Chalk n Duster, among others.

Juhi Chawla has also produced films with Shah Rukh Khan under their company Dreamz Unlimited. She co-owns the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament, along with Shah Rukh Khan.

Juhi Chawla will now be seen in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga along with Anil Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao.

Which one of these actresses do you like the most?