Deepika Padukone Champions Maternity Guidelines for Women Cricketers Amid Personal Joy
Deepika Padukone's Support for Women in Sports
Deepika Padukone is once again in the spotlight, but this time it's not due to her latest film or a stunning appearance. As she anticipates the arrival of her second child with husband Ranveer Singh, the actress has voiced her support for the International Cricket Council's (ICC) newly introduced maternity return guidelines for female cricketers. On Tuesday, she took to her Instagram Stories to endorse this initiative, emphasizing the ICC's commitment to player welfare with its rollout of post-pregnancy return-to-play protocols.
In her post, Padukone described the announcement as a "landmark moment for women in sport," punctuated with several clapping emojis. This enthusiastic response aligns with her ongoing advocacy for the challenges faced by working mothers and the need for a better work-life balance. Last year, she was at the forefront of discussions about work schedules in the film industry, reportedly requesting changes to her filming hours and a share in the profits of her films. Additionally, she sought extra pay for work beyond standard hours and separate accommodations for her crew during the production of "Kalki 2898 AD." Despite the considerable online chatter, Padukone later reaffirmed her commitment to maintaining balanced work hours.
In November of the previous year, she highlighted how society has normalized overworking, often leading to burnout under the guise of dedication. Padukone believes that individuals can only excel when they are both physically and mentally well. Meanwhile, the ICC's newly established return-to-play guidelines for post-pregnancy represent a groundbreaking step for women's sports. This policy is the first of its kind globally, designed to support female cricketers in safely resuming their professional careers after pregnancy. The guidelines offer a comprehensive framework for players, cricket boards, medical staff, and coaches, detailing medical and physical timelines to help manage player workloads during and after pregnancy.
On a personal note, Deepika and Ranveer recently delighted their fans by announcing they are expecting their second child. This joyful news was shared through a joint Instagram post featuring their daughter, Dua Padukone Singh, holding a pregnancy test that displayed two pink lines. In the heartwarming image, both Deepika and Ranveer are seen gently cradling their daughter, with Deepika captioning the post with just a heart emoji. The couple welcomed their first child, Dua, in September 2024. Professionally, Deepika is gearing up for her role in "King" alongside Shah Rukh Khan and is also busy with her upcoming film "Raka," directed by Atlee and produced by Sun Pictures.