Actor, anchor, and radio jockey Devanggana Chauhan used the occasion of Mother's Day 2026 to pay a deeply personal tribute to her late mother — a woman she describes as her greatest motivator and the architect of her resilience.

In an exclusive conversation, Chauhan opened up about growing up under the watchful guidance of a mother who channeled her love through discipline, creativity, and quiet sacrifice. The tribute offered a rare glimpse behind the public persona of a television personality known for hosting high-profile events and glamorous red carpets.

Chauhan recalled the values instilled early on: that accomplishment must be earned, never assumed. Simple childhood wants — a new pencil box, her first mobile phone — came attached to tangible goals. Scoring strong marks in school was not merely encouraged; it was the currency through which rewards were granted.

Beyond discipline, Chauhan painted a picture of a woman of considerable artistic gifts. Her mother had a background in Bombay Art and was an enthusiastic dancer — qualities she channelled into actively supporting her daughter's participation in inter-school dance competitions, practising alongside her for hours before Chauhan's illness made that impossible.

Chauhan was in Class 6 when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Despite the gravity of the illness, she says their home never felt defined by it. Her mother, she recalls, maintained an atmosphere of warmth and optimism. The family marked Mother's Day each year with handmade greeting cards and self-prepared sandwiches — small, deliberate acts of love from Chauhan and her younger brother.

The transition from childhood rebellion to adult understanding, she acknowledges, came only after her mother's death. The instinct to push back against parental boundaries — so common in adolescence — gave way in time to a full appreciation of the sacrifices made behind the scenes.

When asked what she wishes she had expressed more often, Chauhan's answer was unambiguous: that she loves her, and that she needed her. The upbringing she received, she says, is the foundation of the strength she carries today.

Mother's Day remains a complicated occasion for Chauhan. The widespread celebration on social media — images of shared meals, bouquets, handwritten notes — can feel overwhelming when the person being honoured is no longer present. Her response has been deliberate withdrawal: stepping away from her phone, logging off social platforms, and redirecting her attention toward her grandmother, who now anchors the day's meaning.

Her account speaks to an experience shared by many who have lost a parent — the particular ache of public celebration when private grief remains unresolved. For Chauhan, the day is no less meaningful for being painful. It is, she suggests, precisely the depth of loss that reflects the magnitude of what her mother gave her.