Bollywood actor Kalki Koechlin’s new play tackles the messy, untold realities of motherhood

The play "Belly of the Beast," adapted from Koechlin’s 2021 book, premiered in Delhi and received a standing ovation.

• Koechlin said women are rarely allowed to express the dark feelings of motherhood, including hormonal changes and loss of identity.
• Koechlin stated that society takes mothers for granted and that raising children is a thankless job.
• Actor Shruti Vyas, who plays a woman experiencing miscarriage, said she wanted to communicate that invisible pain does not mean it is not being experienced.
• The play premiered in Delhi, where the cast and crew received a standing ovation.