Some stories of motherhood go beyond sacrifice and become a lesson in resilience. One such story belongs to Neera Chopra, the mother of actress and Miss India 2009 Pooja Chopra.
She recently appeared on the reality show Tum Ho Naa – Ghar Ki Superstar, Neera opened up about one of the most heartbreaking chapters of her life being rejected by her marital family for giving birth to daughters and having to rebuild her life from scratch with almost nothing in hand.
When the Birth of a Daughter Wasn’t Celebrated
Neera revealed that things changed drastically after the birth of her second daughter, Pooja. While her first daughter’s arrival had been met with limited acceptance, the family’s desire for a son only increased with time.
When Pooja was born, the atmosphere turned hostile. No one from the family came to see Neera or the newborn in the hospital for three days. Even her husband remained distant and refused to hold his daughter.
The situation became unbearable when Pooja was just 20 days old. According to Neera, her in-laws constantly pressured her to either abandon the baby in an orphanage or end her life, telling her, “Khatam kar do isko” (End her).
Faced with an unimaginable choice, Neera chose her daughter.
On the 21st day after giving birth, she held her seven-year-old daughter’s hand, carried her newborn in her arms, and walked out of her marital home forever.
Starting Again With Just ₹81
Leaving everything behind, With her daughters by her side and nowhere else to turn, Neera left Kolkata for Mumbai to start over with the support of her parents. She had no train ticket and only ₹81 in her purse.
Determined to provide for her daughters, she began searching for work. She eventually walked into a five-star hotel and asked for a job. Her honesty and confidence impressed a senior executive, Mrs. Mona Chawla, who offered her employment with a starting salary of just ₹900 a month.
For years, Neera carefully stretched every rupee. Most of her salary went towards supporting the household, while she kept only a small amount aside for her daughters’ basic needs. Slowly and steadily, life began to improve. Later, she secured a better-paying job in Goa, earning ₹6,000 a month and finally bringing some stability to her family.
A Mother’s Faith Comes True
Years later, the little girl who was once considered unwanted went on to become Femina Miss India East and eventually Miss India World 2009. Pooja Chopra also carved a successful path for herself in the entertainment industry.
Recalling the day she left her marital home, Neera remembered telling her in-laws, “You are throwing me out because of this daughter, right? One day, this girl will make me proud.”
Today, those words stand fulfilled.
Looking back at her journey, Neera said that if she were to be born again, she would still choose to be the mother of the same two daughters.
Her story is not just about overcoming adversity. It is a powerful reminder that a mother’s courage can change the course of her children’s lives and that daughters, when given love and opportunity, can become a family’s greatest source of pride.
