Veteran actress Moushumi Chatterjee has shared her views on modern relationships, marriage and parenting, offering a candid perspective on the advice she gives her daughter Megha Mukherjee. The veteran actress spoke about changing social attitudes and the importance of making personal choices instead of living according to expectations.
During a conversation with journalist Nayandeep Rakshit at the Jagran Film Festival 2026, Moushumi discussed how attitudes towards relationships have changed over the years. She said young women should be more careful about their decisions and should also learn to prioritise themselves.
Her comments came from the perspective of someone who entered marriage and motherhood at a very young age. Moushumi said her own experiences, including mistakes she made earlier in life, have influenced the way she now thinks about relationships and parenting.
Moushumi Chatterjee’s Advice to Daughter Megha
One of the most talked-about parts of the conversation was Moushumi Chatterjee’s advice to her daughter regarding dating and marriage.
The actress said she has told Megha that having a boyfriend does not necessarily mean that she has to marry the same person. Her message was that being in a relationship and deciding to spend an entire life with someone are two different choices.
Moushumi’s comments emphasised the importance of taking time before making a major commitment. Rather than treating a relationship as an automatic path towards marriage, she encouraged her daughter to make the decision based on her own circumstances and understanding.
The advice reflects the actress’s views on how relationships have changed over generations. She suggested that young people today have more opportunities to make individual choices than previous generations did.
Why Moushumi Wants Young Women to Think About Themselves
While discussing her daughter and relationships, Moushumi Chatterjee also addressed young women in general. She encouraged them to be somewhat “selfish” and “self-centered,” using the words in the context of making space for their own needs and choices.

She connected this idea with the changing nature of society and referred to the Bhagavad Gita’s teaching that change is a constant part of life.
According to Moushumi, society has changed significantly compared with earlier generations. She believes young women should recognise those changes rather than automatically following traditional expectations.
Her comments were particularly focused on the pressure placed on women to adjust their lives around family responsibilities. She questioned why daughters are often taught to manage their in-laws’ homes while sons are not given the same emphasis on sharing household responsibilities.
Moushumi Chatterjee Questions Traditional Gender Roles
Moushumi also spoke about the unequal expectations traditionally placed on men and women within households.
She pointed out that girls are often brought up with the expectation that they will eventually take responsibility for domestic work in their marital homes. At the same time, boys may not receive the same training or expectations regarding household chores.
For Moushumi, this imbalance is something that needs to change as society evolves.
She also expressed concern about the amount of stress experienced by younger generations. According to her, people are increasingly busy and under pressure, leaving them with little time to enjoy their lives or spend time with themselves.
Her remarks therefore extended beyond marriage and dating to the larger question of how young people balance relationships, family expectations and their own personal lives.
She Advises People Not to Live for Others
Another important part of Moushumi’s message was her advice against making life decisions simply to prove something to other people.
She encouraged people to focus on what they genuinely want rather than constantly trying to satisfy social expectations. At the same time, she cautioned against taking things to an extreme.
The actress also urged young people to learn from their mistakes. She acknowledged that she has made mistakes in her own life but said that once she understood that something was wrong, she tried not to repeat it.
This perspective appears to be influenced by Moushumi’s own life experiences, particularly because she entered marriage and motherhood when she was still very young.
Moushumi Chatterjee Got Married at a Young Age
Moushumi Chatterjee’s comments about marriage carry particular context because she herself married at a very young age.
She married Jayanta Mukherjee, son of legendary singer and composer Hemant Kumar. According to NDTV, Moushumi was around 15 when she married and became a mother at 17. Her first daughter, Payal, was born during this early phase of her life, while her younger daughter Megha was born in 1991.
Moushumi has previously spoken about how her marriage was arranged after the success of her early acting career. Her experiences of entering adulthood, marriage and motherhood so early have subsequently shaped her perspective on the choices young people make.
Her latest comments therefore provide an interesting contrast between the circumstances of her own early life and the advice she now gives her daughter.
Moushumi’s Bollywood Career
Moushumi Chatterjee began her acting career as a teenager with the Bengali film Balika Badhu in 1967. She subsequently became one of the prominent leading actresses of Hindi cinema during the 1970s.
Over the years, she appeared in films such as Anuraag, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, Benaam, Swarg Narak, Manzil, Angoor and Swayamvar.
She worked with several leading actors of her generation, including Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Vinod Khanna and Sanjeev Kumar. Her career subsequently extended across Bengali and Hindi cinema.
Despite beginning her career at a very young age, Moushumi continued to remain associated with the entertainment industry for decades.
Remembering Daughter Payal
During the conversation, Moushumi also became emotional while recalling her elder daughter Payal, who died in 2019 after battling diabetes and spending a prolonged period in a coma.
Moushumi has previously spoken about the devastating impact of Payal’s death on the family. She said Payal had been particularly close to her younger sister Megha and had looked after her like a mother.
The loss remains an emotional part of Moushumi’s life. Her comments about family, relationships and making personal choices therefore also come against the background of her own experiences as a mother.
A Different Perspective on Marriage
Moushumi Chatterjee’s latest comments present a perspective on marriage that differs from the traditional idea that a romantic relationship should automatically lead to marriage.
Her advice to Megha was centred on taking time, understanding personal choices and not feeling obligated to follow a predetermined path simply because a relationship exists.
She also encouraged young people to learn from experience rather than fear making mistakes altogether. For Moushumi, the important thing is to recognise mistakes, understand their consequences and avoid repeating them.
Moushumi Chatterjee’s Message for the Younger Generation
Through her comments, Moushumi Chatterjee has highlighted several issues surrounding modern relationships, including personal independence, changing gender roles, family expectations and the pressure faced by young people.
Her advice to Megha reflects how her own understanding of marriage has evolved over the years. While she entered marriage and motherhood early in life, she now believes younger generations should have the opportunity to take their time and make decisions for themselves.
The actress’s comments at the Jagran Film Festival have consequently sparked attention not only because of her relationship advice but also because they offer a glimpse into how her personal experiences have shaped her views.
For Moushumi, relationships should not automatically dictate the course of an individual’s life. Her message to her daughter and younger women is to remain thoughtful about major decisions, make room for their own needs and learn from the experiences that come along the way.
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