"My Mother Is My Biggest Cheerleader And My Harshest Critic," Says Bhumi Pednekar

Bhumi Pednekar shares a special bond with her mother, not just as a blood relative but as a professional critic too. Bhumi's success becomes bigger with her mother’s special gift—a gold coin! Here's the story behind it..

Bhumi says, "My mother is my biggest cheerleader and my harshest critic. So, every time I do a project, I look forward to her review. She is brutally honest, and she has given me the most constructive feedback time and again. She does something incredibly sweet and heart-touching when she loves my acting."

Bhumi adds, "When Dum Laga Ke Haisha was released, right after the cast & crew screening, my mother and I came home, and she gave me a gold coin! That was her way of saying that she loved my performance and that she had no notes. I remember hugging her and crying. Since that day, I have looked forward to when I would earn a gold coin from her for my work. It’s the greatest reward for me."She further says, "So, when I have done projects like Saand Ki Aankh, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Sonchiriya, Lust Stories, Bala, Shubh Mangal Saavdhaan, Badhaai Do, and some others, my mom has gifted me this and it has meant the world to me. She did the same for Bhakshak!"

Talking about her mother's emotional reaction to Bhakshak, Bhumi said, "My mom had tears in her eyes after the screening of the film, and looking at her, of course, I also broke down. It reminded me of my Dum Laga Ke Haisha moment. I have never seen my mom so overwhelmed. We didn’t speak at all during our ride back home. I think what she saw touched her deeply."

She adds, "When we reached home, she got a gold coin out and told me that she was waiting to present the gold coin to me again. For an actor like me, who works really hard and very passionately with the intent to deliver good performances, gestures like these are incredible validation for me to choose distinct, diverse and extremely risky roles."