When you hear the name Charu Shankar, you might immediately think of her commanding screen presence, whether it’s as the poised and powerful Mehrunissa in Siyaasat or her recent standout roles across OTT platforms. But beyond the lights and lens, Charu’s impact extends into a very different, deeply personal realm — the world of women’s wellness, specifically around motherhood.
Today, she’s the force behind Bump to Baby Fitness, a pioneering wellness initiative supporting Indian mothers through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. We caught up with Charu to explore the origin story of this unexpected second act — one born not in ambition, but in exhaustion.
“In 2015, everything changed,” she tells us, her voice steady but reflective. “My son was born. And so was my show, Siyaasat. I was on screen in Mughal splendour, radiant in costume. But offscreen, I was overwhelmed, aching, and sleepless — holding my crying newborn, wondering where the old me had gone.”
Those early postpartum days, she says, were raw and blurry. But within that vulnerability, a seed was planted. When a friend asked her to design a wellness program for his hospital, she instinctively created what she had needed back then — gentle, pain-free movement, guidance rooted in real physiology (not Instagram myths), and most importantly, a space of emotional support and community.
That program evolved into Bump to Baby Fitness, and it has continued to grow since.
The Movement Behind the Movement
One of the most powerful aspects of Charu’s work is her myth-busting approach to prenatal and postpartum fitness.
“The most common misconception?” she says, “That exercise during pregnancy is unsafe. It’s simply not true.”
Her team works strictly within ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) guidelines, prioritising posture correction, alignment, and strength training — yes, strength training — for expectant mothers.
“You’ll soon be carrying a 3-kilo baby round the clock. You need strength. You need support. And you need someone telling you it’s okay to take care of yourself too.”
The Bump to Baby Method, co-founded with physiotherapist Nupur Nath, now extends far beyond the delivery room. Their work includes postpartum mobility routines for the critical first 40 days, and most recently, support for women entering menopause — a natural but still taboo phase of life for many Indian women.
From Body Image to Body Wisdom
As someone who lives in the public eye, Charu is candid about the pressures of body image — particularly after becoming a mother.
“I’ve tried every diet. Every trend. Because the camera is unforgiving — it freezes you at a certain age, while the world watches as you change in real life.”
But somewhere along the way, her perspective shifted.
“Through wellness work, I stopped chasing perfection and started choosing presence. I began honouring my body for what it had been through — not punishing it for how it looked. That’s the real strength we need to cultivate in women.”
A Sisterhood Reimagined
One story Charu shares stands out — a new mother recovering in hospital, unsure, teary, and exhausted. Charu sat with her, talking not just about stretches or baby blues, but about identity.
*”Just as your baby is newly born,” she told the woman, “so are you — a newborn mother.”
What happened next was unexpected: the woman’s mother-in-law, who had been quietly observing from a corner, said: “No one ever told me these things. I thought something was wrong with me back then.” And then — she joined in the pelvic floor exercises too.
Two generations. One mat. Laughing, learning, and healing together.
*”That moment,” Charu says, smiling, “was everything. That’s what Bump to Baby is really about — not just movement, but community. Sisterhood. A space where we’re allowed to fall apart and rebuild ourselves — together.”
Balance Without Burnout
So how does Charu balance it all — acting, running a wellness company, and motherhood?
“Let go of the myth that you have to do it all, all the time,” she says firmly. “I’ve learned to build my village. My support system. And I ask for help — often. That’s not failure. That’s wisdom.”
For working mothers, she offers this parting advice:
“If your career matters to you, honour that. It is a form of wellness — a way to nurture your sense of self. But don’t do it alone. Community matters. Support matters. We were never meant to do this in isolation.”
From Mehrunissa to Motherhood Mentor
Charu Shankar’s journey reminds us that reinvention doesn’t always begin with ambition — sometimes it begins with survival. But from that struggle can emerge a mission that transforms not just one life, but thousands.
And in her case, it’s doing exactly that — one mother, one movement, and one breath at a time.
Follow Charu Shankar ‘s journey on Instagram at @shankar.charu, and learn more about Bump to Baby Fitness and their new programs for postpartum and menopause care.