New Delhi/London — Veteran Bollywood actress and television personality Archana Puran Singh has shared a deeply personal account of her miscarriage, pregnancy struggles and early challenges in her marriage, including feeling emotionally unsupported by actor Parmeet Sethi during that time. The revelations emerged in the third episode of the couple’s YouTube series Pyaar Dosti Hai, in which they candidly revisit their life and relationship over decades.
Miscarriage shock and longing for motherhood
Archana described one of the most painful moments of her life — losing a pregnancy early in her marriage. “I had conceived, but I couldn’t sustain the pregnancy. I was working on a film at the time, and I had a miscarriage,” she said, calling the experience deeply traumatic. “I really wanted to have children, and losing the pregnancy affected me deeply.”
She also spoke about the uncertainty that followed: “I was 34. I genuinely thought I wouldn’t be able to have children,” reflecting on the fear that the loss may have ended her dreams of motherhood.
Parmeet Sethi’s early reaction to parenthood
Parmeet acknowledged his change in perspective after witnessing Archana’s hardship. “Seeing what you went through made me feel that we didn’t really need children. I was very happy with just us,” he said, recalling the emotional toll it took on him.
Archana quoted him saying at the time: “We are so close and there is no space between us for another person.” She disagreed, noting, “I told you that a child wouldn’t be an outsider, it would be our own.”
Pregnancy amid grief and physical distress
Archana said she later found out she was pregnant again during a deeply emotional period. “I didn’t realise it then, but I was pregnant,” she recalled after learning of her father’s death while she was abroad.
She also shared vivid details of her physical struggles during that pregnancy. “I was very independent. I was physically very strong. But emotionally, you are only a woman… You are told that you feel nausea only in the first 3-4 months of pregnancy, but I felt nausea for 8 months. I was sick for eight months. I used to have an allergy to smells…” she said, describing the overwhelming sensations she experienced.
Archana added, “Even the smell of soap… It was like you are an animal that can smell every scent in the world… It was not a pleasant experience at all.”
She also spoke about the weight loss she faced: “I lost so much weight. I became half my weight, whereas you are expected to put on weight during pregnancy.”
Feeling abandoned during pregnancy
Looking back, Parmeet admitted his lack of awareness early on. “I didn’t support you at all. I was completely clueless. There was a time you needed complete bed rest, and I said I’m going to play football,” he said.
Archana reflected on that moment: “Here I was, sick, trying to protect my pregnancy after a miscarriage, and he’s going to play football,” she said, conveying the sense of isolation she felt.
She added: “At that time, I felt abandoned. Only later did I understand it came from a lack of awareness.”
Parmeet called himself “foolish” in retrospect. “I would never intentionally hurt you. I just didn’t know better,” he said.
Reflection and enduring relationships
Beyond the physical challenges, Archana expressed how the experience shaped her views on relationships and support. “As a mother, I don’t want my daughters-in-law to go through what I did. I want my sons to understand that for those nine months, they need to forget themselves and be there for their wives,” she said.
Parmeet also shared a poignant reflection on their family, saying, “He (our son) feels like his reincarnation, same humour, same nature,” referring to their son Aaryaman
