Ayushmann Khurrana Takes Break From Work, Says 'Wife Needs My Time'

Can you even imagine an actor at the peak of his game taking a long break from his career, to spend time with his or her family? While it is indeed a daring move, Ayushmann Khurrana, who has emerged as one of the most bankable box office stars, a much loved one by the audience too, is doing just that. The actor said, “I do realise my children are growing up and my wife needs time from me. I am making a conscious attempt to take time off work periodically,” reasoning, “All of last year and most of this year, I was shooting four back-to-back films. So, this past one year was really tough. But now I am taking care of it, and I will strike a balance. I am taking time off from mid-November to be with my family.” It is a rarity for men to put a thought into work-life balance, especially when the family part of perks and duties still lies largely with women. But if not a star who can afford to make a choice, then who?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has announced that he will be taking a long break from work.
• It wouldn't have been an easy decision for a person so successful and on top of his game.
• We Indians pride ourselves in our sincerity and prioritise work over everything else.
• But we can make a choice if we want to, and strike a work-life balance with a break that will bring us happiness.

We Indians pride ourselves in our sincerity, when it comes to our careers. Come hail or high water, we will wade or rather swim our way to work. We find a way to work through sickness, be it ours or that of our loved ones. We always prioritise work over family time.

Taking a break from work is still a concept in a country which still refuses to embrace the benefits of work-life balance. Life could wait, first, we need to work. The result is that we miss out on a lot and are unavailable when our family needs us. Little do we know that life will pass us at a blinding speed and we will be left wondering when did the kids grow up, or when did mother develop such severe arthritis, or how did the spouse’s hair go grey so quick. Were we not watching? Were we not paying attention to those around us, those who are dear to us? And why just for our loved ones, how many of us dare to take a break from work just for ourselves? Just because we want to?

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The ignorance towards my own self blindsided me last year when I suffered from a bout of depression, which left me wondering, how did my mental health end in such a bad state? I was in control of life, taking care of my kid, writing a book, working, being a wife and daughter and many more things that life required me to be. But in the many duties and roles that I had to play, I had ignored the one person whose well-being I was solely accountable for, me.

Of course, the consequences may come across as daunting. In the actor’s case, he might not just be doing any work for the coming few months, but he may also turn down good projects which could bring him more success and accolades.

The process of healing made me realise how important it was to take a break from not just work, but any kind of duty, and do what you feel like. It could be anything from tending to an ailing parent, spending time with your kid, or taking that vacation you have been wanting to. It could be just for days, or as it is in Ayushmann’s case months, or even a year. Of course, the consequences may come across as daunting. In the actor’s case, he might not just be doing any work for the coming few months, but he may also turn down good projects which could bring him more success and accolades. But he is still taking the leap, maybe because he knows that there is more to life than success and money.

Ayushmann is taking a break because he needed to. He wants to devout his time caring for his family and while your reason may be different, one mustn't hesitate to do the same. Work can wait, first, we live.

Image Credit: Times Now

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Yamini Pustake Bhalerao is a writer with the SheThePeople team, in the Opinions section. The views expressed are the author’s own.