Why actresses usually retire from movies after marriage?

Being an actress isn't easy. You have a short shelf-life, so you work like a maniac for those 5-10 years and make the most of it. But when you do take a break, your market value drops, newbies are getting better roles and endorsement deals. There is not much return, either in terms of creative satisfaction nor money. So why will they work at the same pace?

Imagine you worked at a firm and you got paid 1 million a year. You took a break, and for the same kind of effort, you will get only 20% of that money, would you still happily do that job? No you wouldn't. Not unless you badly need that money. Which in case of actresses, they don't. Since they have already made a handsome fortune (an additional plus if they got married to a rich guy), pray tell why would they work for peanuts? They would rather spend that time with family, the life which they missed out on during the hectic working life where they were busy making 3-4 movies a year.

Now is the time to relax, spend time with husband and kids, raise children, go on vacations, pamper yourself etc. Aishwarya is doing this. Of course, if a good offer comes along, she does a movie or two once in a while. It sounds like a win for me.

Regarding getting nannies for kids, I think it's a personal choice. It depends on how attached you are to your children and how involved you want to be in their growing up. Someone like a Kareena may not be that involved which is still ok. To each their own.

I feel like in Bollywood all the actresses aspire to be is rich housewives, as their is a huge pay inequality between the Hero or the heroine. After they achieve the rich housewife status they stop acting.

Lets look at some examples

1. Sridevi- she was gorgeous and she married booney (now why does a gorgeous woman marry a mota married guy)

2. Rani- She also married Aditya Chopra- now why did she marry a not so good looking guy with a kid or so from biwi number 1.

3. Shilpa Shetty- She married Raj or whatever his name is. He was also married once before and had some kids as well.

My only answer is.. It's their personal choice

Marriage or Kids don't have any impact on career or stardom of actresses.

Age and freshness does.

Moushumi Chatterjee

Sharmila Tagore

Rakhee

Juhi Chawla

And now Kareena

Actresses used to get lead /star roles till they were 30.it got extended to 35 in the last decade. Now it has extended to 40.

Actors can be heroes till 60 plus. But actresses cannot. And this holds true for single actresses too. Urmila is an example.

Beyond 35 if an actress is willing to do small budget / parallel cinema / OTT if she is a good actress or Bhabhi/Didi/mother of teenager roles she can still have a career.

I would imagine there is a serious burnout as well. Think if in the first 10 years you work 17-18 hours a day and it's like a feeding frenzy where you sign brands and films and do PR 24/7 to stay relevant. You make your millions and then you reach a stage where younger actresses start edging you out. Also, you yourself don't have that killer instinct anymore, having made your mark and you want to slow down and have a baby or two, enjoy time with your family- why wouldn't you if you can afford it?

Dont forget, their work, unlike ours, cant be erased from ppl's minds. Even when Sri Devi stopped working, she was still Sri Devi in retirement, their fame is forever. So they feel emboldened to take a break.

It's an age thing too. At 30 or 35 or 40, many people want to slow down and smell the roses, even non-celebrities. Each to their own, but if I could afford to semi-retire at an early age, I would too. Ambition is important but life's too short. Everything in balance

Originally posted by: Lord_Voldemort

Being an actress isn't easy. You have a short shelf-life, so you work like a maniac for those 5-10 years and make the most of it. But when you do take a break, your market value drops, newbies are getting better roles and endorsement deals. There is not much return, either in terms of creative satisfaction nor money. So why will they work at the same pace?

Imagine you worked at a firm and you got paid 1 million a year. You took a break, and for the same kind of effort, you will get only 20% of that money, would you still happily do that job? No you wouldn't. Not unless you badly need that money. Which in case of actresses, they don't. Since they have already made a handsome fortune (an additional plus if they got married to a rich guy), pray tell why would they work for peanuts? They would rather spend that time with family, the life which they missed out on during the hectic working life where they were busy making 3-4 movies a year.

Now is the time to relax, spend time with husband and kids, raise children, go on vacations, pamper yourself etc. Aishwarya is doing this. Of course, if a good offer comes along, she does a movie or two once in a while. It sounds like a win for me.

Regarding getting nannies for kids, I think it's a personal choice. It depends on how attached you are to your children and how involved you want to be in their growing up. Someone like a Kareena may not be that involved which is still ok. To each their own.

I think people also like to retire early many times after working hard for a long time. There is nothing wrong in that. If I made that amount of money at a young age, I would retire too. 😆

There was this person who started the company I worked in (was one of the founders).. after some years and making a lot of money.. he now works as an organic farmer now. ( also grandson or Great grandson.. can’t remember.. of former president of India. )😆

I think the problem lies in Bollywood industry as well as we Bollywood fans.

Originally posted by: CurryMonsta

I feel like in Bollywood all the actresses aspire to be is rich housewives, as their is a huge pay inequality between the Hero or the heroine. After they achieve the rich housewife status they stop acting.

Lets look at some examples

1. Sridevi- she was gorgeous and she married booney (now why does a gorgeous woman marry a mota married guy).

2. Rani- She also married Aditya Chopra- now why did she marry a not so good looking guy with a kid or so from biwi number 1.

3. Shilpa Shetty- She married Raj or whatever his name is. He was also married once before and had some kids as well.

IMO, its more about practicality when it comes to marriage. Most big actresses aren't able to find someone who is suitable in every way for them - looks, money, lifestyle. So they generally settle for whatever suits them and don't bother if they have been divorced, have other kids or aren't good looking. This was especially true for the generation of actresses you have mentioned. Also, it's not easy to find someone that is outside your circle (like Madhur married a US based doctor), its not impossible or but generally unlikely.

Not everyone is lucky in terms of finding the kind of partner they want, for eg - for an actress who is beautiful and also successful - if there aren't unmarried options that are at par with her age group in the era and she is looking for someone within the industry, her options may be limited. She will have to settle for the best out of the lot.

This generation has much more options - there are more actors and actresses. There are more platforms that they can explore, venture out in their careers.

I think its a general thing, look at most arranged marriages - women look for financial security and someone who can give her the life she wants (also nature of the person - if she can adjust with him). Men often lean more towards physical attraction.

Shilpa Shetty's husband's ex wife had accused them saying, her husband's obsession with Shilpa broke her marriage.. and her baby was just a few months old at the time. 🥺

Because they can afford to, tbh.

That’s what I love about Kareena kapoor, she followed her mother in law’s footsteps with working after marriage and kids, a lot of the older actresses used to do that and they were successful hit making movies as well whether it’s Jaya, Hema and etc, Kareena still can’t sell a movie on her own, she needs others to help her but she still working and I respect that. Women who have their career and family together are amazing in my opinion. Vidya too is still working after marriage and is very passionate about her career. But if you enjoy being a housewife than lucky you or them actresses to have money to do that.