Soha Ali Khan says motherhood made her realise she’s a ‘control freak’: ‘I’ll fix it myself’

In a recent interview, Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan revealed that motherhood has made her realize she is a "control freak." In her conversation with Tweak India, the Rang De Basanti star confessed that having a child brought to light her problematic tendency to always want to fix things herself. Soha explained that when multiple individuals are involved in raising a child, she recognized the need for delegating responsibilities.

Psychiatrist Dr. Manasvi M from Maarga Mind Care shared insights into the challenges many mothers face when it comes to asking for help. She noted that highly achievement-oriented, organized, and independent mothers often struggle with shared caregiving. These women have a strong sense of responsibility and usually hold very high personal standards.

They plan ahead, anticipate problems, and prefer things to be done in a specific way. When help is offered, these mothers worry that the other person won't do things the way they would, which can feel unsafe, especially when it involves the well-being of their child.

Dr. Manasvi highlighted the emotional aspect of this issue, stating that for some mothers, being the primary caregiver is closely tied to their sense of self-identity. Accepting help may feel like admitting that they cannot manage everything, leading to guilt and anxiety. She advised separating control from responsibility, emphasizing that a mother can still be responsible for her child's wellbeing without managing every single task.

Dr. Manasvi recommended starting with lower-stakes handovers and accepting that reasonably well-done tasks are good enough. Beginning with smaller areas, like bath time, school runs, or one-night feeds, can make it easier to sustain this approach.