Arti Singh on losing her mother as an infant, opens up about motherhood plans; says, “If I don’t conceive naturally, I’ll adopt—I’m an adopted child myself”

Arti Singh has experienced her share of ups and downs in life. However, she has stayed strong despite all the odds. The actress, who won many hearts with her performances in TV shows like Thoda Hai Thode Ki Zarurat Hai, Parichay and Waaris, recently opened up about her life. From losing her mother soon after her birth to having no father-figure while growing up, Arti spoke about her journey to Hauterrfly. She also discussed her childhood days with mama Govinda, being adopted by her biological mother's best friend and her thoughts on embracing motherhood. (Photo: Instagram)

My mother passed away at the age of 37. She died on May 11, and I was born on April 5—so it was within about a month of my birth. By God’s grace, her best friend, whom I call my mother, took me in. Before my bilogical passed away, my Geeta maa had handed me over to her. I didn’t really have a father figure around. At that time, there were small children at home, Krushna was just one and a half years old, and I was a premature baby. My life had a lot of ups and downs. I didn’t grow up with Krushna for many years, as I stayed with the family that raised me. But I was loved and cared for, and I had a full family around me. Looking back, I feel it was good for me, as it helped me grow into a stable person.” (Photo: Instagram)

It’s not just about friendship, we often talk about it, but she truly lived it. She was actually my mother's cousin’s Bhabhi as well, and their bond was incredibly close. They were so close that they would even go to parties wearing the same saree. You don’t usually see that kind of relationship between in-laws.

I feel my mother passed on that same warmth and connection to me. (Photo: Instagram)

Geeta maa raised me in a way that prepared me for life. I got married at 39, which was a big deal for her at that time. I remember something Krushna once shared: after my wedding rituals were done, she looked up and said, "My responsibility is fulfilled."’ It wasn’t about pressure, but more about how women of her generation saw it as their duty to see their daughters settled. For her, it was a moment of relief and completion.” (Photo: Instagram)

My relationship with my father was okay, not very close, but not bad either. I was raised in Lucknow by my mother's friend after my mom passed away, while Krushna and my father stayed back here. So technically, I’m actually Aarti Sharma, not Aarti Singh. I took that name as I was living there. I think my father was a bit upset about it, but that’s how things were at the time. Since I was away, our relationship remained just okay. (Photo: Instagram)

I love Chichi Mama a lot and have always looked up to him. I even lived with him for a while, and the way he took care of the entire family is something I truly admire. His house was always full, everyone would gather there. He played a big role in raising all the kids, even Krushna grew up there. Since our mother wasn’t around, he stepped in and handled everything. They all lived in Juhu, and Chichi Mama’s house was also there, so everyone stayed close. Sunita Maami has given so much love to everyone. I was the only one who was away from all this, living outside the limelight. I would visit a few times a month just to meet Krushna. (Photo: Instagram)

I wanted someone who offered lifelong security, someone I could call my own, who would protect me and make me feel safe. Maybe that came from my past. I didn’t have a very close relationship with my father, and I lost the father who adopted me too, so somewhere that absence stayed with me. The lack of that father figure, that protective presence was there. Because of that, I felt I became more emotional and searched for that kind of connection. When I spoke to Deepak for the first time, I was very open with him. I told him everything about myself in that very first conversation, even about my panic attacks. (Photo: Instagram)

Marriage was always a constant topic—people would keep asking, ‘When are you getting married?’ And whenever I visited Lucknow, the next question would be, ‘When will you have a child?’ But my family—my mother, my brother, Krushna, Vicky bhaiya—have always been supportive. They believed I could take care of myself, and that matters. I feel when you are independent, you carry a different kind of confidence. (Photo: Instagram)

The same goes for having children—it shouldn’t be forced. Independence gives you strength, and it also earns you respect from others. People often remind me about my age and the so-called biological clock. When I first met my husband, I was very honest with him. I told him I was 38, that I might get married by 39, and that I wasn’t sure if I would be able to have a child. He simply looked at me and said there are so many children in the world who need a home—we can always adopt. He even said that even if we have our own child, we would still adopt one. (Photo: Instagram)

I was really moved by my husband's thinking. Deepak valued my honesty and accepted everything as it was. That’s one of the biggest reasons I chose to marry him—because of the kind of person he is. I’ve heard about egg freezing as an option and many people suggested it to me, but I didn’t go ahead with it. Honestly, I have a strong fear of injections, so I was quite scared. (Photo: Instagram)

I’ve always felt that if it happens naturally, that’s great. But if it doesn’t, I’m completely open to adoption. There are so many children who need a home. I’m an adopted child myself, and I’ve received a lot of love, so I would love to give the same to someone else. If I’m able to conceive, that’s wonderful. If not, that’s okay too. Giving a child a home is just as beautiful. I don’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone, what matters is the happiness within my home. (Photo: Instagram)