Ileana D’Cruz opens up about self-doubt in motherhood

Ileana D’Cruz revealed the emotional challenges of motherhood, admitting she sometimes felt she wasn’t a perfect mother. The actress welcomed her second son in June 2025 and has gradually embraced the vulnerability and self-doubt as part of the parenting journey.

Mumbai: Actress Ileana D’Cruz, who welcomed her second baby Keanu Rafe Dolan in June, has spoken about how she faced moments of self-doubt and vulnerability where she often questioned herself as a mother.

Opening up about the emotional side of motherhood, Ileana during her conversation with Neha Dhupia during a Freedom to Feed live session said that her journey post-pregnancy was not without struggles.

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Ileana said: “There were times I felt I wasn’t a perfect mother. I broke down so many times, wondering if I was doing things right.”

“But slowly I’ve realised it’s okay to have those feelings, it’s all part of the process,” she added.

Ileana, who is married to Michael Dolan, welcomed their first child, Koa Phoenix Dolan, on August 1, 2023, and their second son, Keanu Rafe Dolan, on June 19, 2025.

She took to Instagram to announce the arrival of Keanu.

Sharing the announcement on social media on June 28, the “Phata Poster Nikhla Hero” actress treated her fans and friends with the first picture of her new born baby. The couple welcomed their second son on June 19, 2025.

On the acting front, the actress was last seen in the romantic comedy drama “Do Aur Do Pyaar” directed by Shirsha Guha Thakurta. The film, which also stars Vidya Balan, Pratik Gandhi, and Sendhil Ramamurthy.

The 38-year-old made her screen debut in 2006 with the Telugu-language romantic-drama film Devadasu. She was then seen in films Pokiri, Jalsa, Kick, and Julayi.

She also starred in the Tamil film Nanban. The actress expanded to Hindi cinema in 2012 with Anurag Basu’s comedy-drama Barf! She was then seen in films such as box office successes—romantic comedy Main Tera Hero, Phata Poster Nikhla Hero, Happy Ending, Mubarakan, Pagalpanti, The Bigg Bull and the crime thrillers Rustom and Raid.