3 min readNew DelhiAug 26, 2025 06:30 PM IST
First published on: Aug 26, 2025 at 06:30 PM IST
On Friday, Hautterfly reported that Sunita Ahuja has filed for divorce in the Bandra Family Court, and the couple is currently undergoing court-mandated relationship counselling. However, Govinda’s lawyer, Lalit Bindra, told NDTV that it is an old matter that has been settled between the couple.
In an interview with the YouTube channel Eat Travel Repeat, where Sunita appeared after the news broke, she shared a strikingly personal memory about the birth of her son Yashvardhan. She said, “When I was delivering my son Yash, I was 100 kgs. I had gained a lot of weight. I thought I will die. Looking at me, Chi Chi (Govinda) started to cry. During those days, sex detection test was legal. We knew we were having a son. I dramatically told the doctor, ‘Doctor, my husband wants a son. Please save the child, it is okay if I die in the process.’ This made Govinda cry even more. He was howling. This was an extremely filmy moment for all of us.”
In her previous interviews, Sunita has also spoken about spending time alone, even on important occasions. In one such interview with Curly Tales, she revealed that she celebrates her birthdays alone, sharing, “I spent a lot of time raising my children and Govinda too (laughs!) I tell every woman that she should take time out for herself too. It’s not just about the husband and the children. When will you live for yourself? I travel solo on my birthday every year. It’s been 12 years.”
But what does this reveal about how family or societal expectations can shape a woman’s identity and decision-making during vulnerable moments like childbirth?
Psychologist Rasshi Gurnani tells indianexpress.com, “Sunita’s story shows how deeply family and social expectations can influence a woman’s choices. In her case, the pressure of giving her husband a son became more important than her own life.”
Psychologically, she notes that this occurs when a woman begins to define herself primarily through the roles of wife or mother. “In moments as vulnerable as childbirth, these expectations can push women into self-sacrificing decisions, where keeping others happy feels more valuable than protecting their own safety.”
How do body image concerns, weight gain, and health fears during pregnancy affect a woman’s mental well-being and her ability to cope emotionally?
“Sunita’s fear during pregnancy also speaks to the mental strain many women go through,” notes Gurnani. Gaining weight is natural, but because society links a woman’s worth to her body, being 100 kgs left her anxious and afraid. Added to that was the very real fear of health complications.
She mentions, together, these worries can “create constant stress, anxiety, and even sadness, making it harder for women to emotionally cope or enjoy their pregnancy.” What’s needed here is reassurance, support, and normalising the changes that come with bringing a child into the world.
In her previous interviews, Sunita has also spoken about spending time alone, even on important occasions. (Photo: Sunita Ahuja/Instagram) 
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