How successful have these filmi mums been?

Having a baby is a matter of joy. And change -- both physiological and professional. The nature of a parent's role is such; it involves great deal of adjustment and multitasking. 

Being a mom is even trickier for a Bollywood actress considering the enduring skepticism among filmmakers. Even after years of successful post-baby celebrities, there is a tendency to question a woman's popularity after she embraces motherhood. Be it the most beautiful woman in the world.

Recently when Aishwarya Rai Bachchan announced her pregnancy, the initial excitement was followed by news of the actress dropping out from Madhur Bhandarkar's much-hyped Heroine and a whole lot of hue and cry was made about professional ethics. But there's no dearth of lucrative offers for Ash whenever she resumes her career.

On that note, here's a look at how Bollywood has treated some of its best-known beauties, post-motherhood.

Though she's never really worked on making an acting career, a bunch of sensational item songs -- ranging from Chaiyya Chaiyya (Dil Se..) to Munni badnaam hui (Dabangg) -- were sufficient to establish Malaika as one of Bollywood's hottest inhabitants. 

In 2003, she and hubby Arbaaz Khan had a son, Arhaan.

Her career continued to take off as she rocked her flawless post-pregnancy figure in skimpy designer wear to play the glamorous judge of dance shows on television. And to dance like a storm in sizzling item ditties like Hoth rasiley (Welcome) and Munni, of course. More power to Malaika.

The Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge sweetheart was on the top of her game when she decided to chuck it all and tie the knot with actor Ajay Devgn. Only films and Karan Johar weren't too eager to let her go.

The audiences were only too happy to see the actress dazzle the screen with her performances in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Fanaa. This affection reflected in box office collections too.

The actress, while pregnant with daughter Nysa, agreed to make a brief/lucky appearance in the song Mahi ve in K Jo's Kal Ho Naa Ho. Raising Nysa was always going to Kajol's first priority even as she green-signaled to act in select projects like U, Me Aur Hum, My Name is Khan and We are Family. 

Irrespective of the films' fates, Kajol enjoys tremendous respect and admiration within and outside the fraternity.

The actress is on yet another sabbatical after giving birth to a baby boy, Yug.

If there's one actress, Bollywood sorely misses it's got to be Madhuri Dixit.

After her marriage to a US-based surgeon, the Dhak Dhak star packed her bags and shifted base to lead a non-starry existence. But only an odd filmmaker or two could lure her back to sets with an offer she couldn't refuse. Like playing Chandramukhi, a courtesan with a heart of gold in the well-received Devdas.

Once, however, Mads turned Mommy with sons Arin and Raayan, the erstwhile numero uno couldn't care less about roles and showbiz. Again, it took the likes of Yash Chopra to woo her into signing a part tailor-made for the powerhouse with the best dancing feet in town.  Unfortunately, despite her nicely maintained figure, gorgeous smile and compelling performance, Aaja Nachle didn't do any justice to Madhuri's unique magic. 

Nevertheless, Vogue's latest cover girl made quite an impression as the high profile judge of Jhalak Dikhlaja season 4.

For all her chirpiness, Juhi Chawla demonstrates maturity in her rather interesting career graph. A low profile wedding to industrialist Jai Mehta was followed by the birth of daughter Jhanvi and son Arjun in quick succession.

Never opting for an obvious break, the actress decided to ease out on her own pace providing a perfect balance between professional and personal space.

Instead of working as a lead in inconsequential films, Juhi preferred to play roles of substance in independent or quirky cinema like Jhankaar Beats, Teen Deewarein, My Brother Nikhil, Bas Ek Pal and I Am.

Behind the scenes, the actress collaborated with co-star Shah Rukh Khan and director Aziz Mirza in producing films like Asoka and Chalte Chalte. Along with SRK and her husband, Juhi is a co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders team at the Indian Premiere League.

She has her share of fun too. Juhi is inarguably amusing with her extremely successful stint as the face of Kurkure snacks.

In 2003, the blue-eyed babe bid adieu to films to settle in marital bliss with family friend and businessman, Sunjay Kapoor.

Barring an odd guest appearance in Om Shanti Om's title song or a long-delayed embarrassment named Mere Jeevan Saathi, Karisma mostly refrained from gracing the big screen even as kid sister Kareena took Bollywood by storm. 

Instead, she preferred to work on Sahara channel's grand scale TV series, Karishma: The Miracle of Destiny, which later ran into legal trouble over copyright issues.

Other than featuring in commercials and judging a season of Nach Baliye, classy Lolo mostly kept to herself. Would you believe that the super svelte mommy of Samaira and Kiaan Raj has not acted in a movie for more than half a decade now?

Well, all that's about to change, after the A-lister signed up for Vikram Bhatt's 3D flick, Dangerous Ishq. Hopefully, this move is more promising than the movie's title.

From being the Mast Mast toast of tinsel town to making racy headlines on glossies for her relationship status with co-star Akshay Kumar to her advent in serious cinema and finally her fairy tale wedding to distributor Anil Thadani, Raveena Tandon sure knows how to live it up.

The ravishing It girl of the 1990s entered the new millennium with a newfound maturity acting in eclectic films like Daman, Satta, Aks and Agni Varsha.  Post-marriage, like contemporary Karisma, Raveena too dabbled in television with a small screen adaptation of Guru Dutt's Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. 

Priorities shifted to domestic life when daughter Rasha and son Ranbir came into the picture.

The actress worked hard on losing post-baby fat to play the vivacious judge of shows like Chak De Bachche and Comedy ka Maha Muqabala. Although a new generation of actresses has taken over her Spice Girl slot, most viewers flashed a schoolboy grin on seeing the Shaher ki ladki doing her bit in the recently released Amitabh Bachchan vehicle, Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap. Here's to more, Ravs!

Having worked in the industry all her life, from child artist to leading lady, it's only fair Sridevi would want to give it up for nurturing a family.

The exuberant star of films like Sadma, Chandni, Lamhe and Chaalbaaz took a break from acting after her controversial marriage to producer Boney Kapoor, which was quickly followed by the birth of their daughters Jhanvi and Khushi.

Like most celebrities, Sri too, tried her hand at television with the mostly silly Malini Iyer. The serial's no-show didn't have much of an impact on the actress who continued to sparkle on social events with her eternal beauty and poise.

After, what seems like eternity, Sri is excited to work on a new film project called English Vingilish, helmed by Gauri Shinde, also happens to be Paa director R Balki's better half.

The model-turned-actress-turned television show judge, Sonali Bendre is the epitome of effortless style and glamour.

Despite hits like Sarfarosh and Major Saab, Bendre never really made it to the top bracket. Marriage to filmmaker Goldie Behl didn't affect her career choices as she earned critical acclaim for her work in Amol Palekar's Marathi film, Anaahat as well as a short but sweet cameo as Shah Rukh Khan's considerate doctor buddy in Kal Ho Naa Ho.

Things slowed down considerably on the movie front after the leggy lady turned mommy to Ranveer in 2005. Instead of scrambling into the rat race, Sonali graciously bowed out to play a charming judge on Indian Idol and India's Got Talent. Big screen or small, Sonali rocks on.

While her colleagues Raakhee, Jaya Bachchan and Sharmila Tagore made a reasonably successful career post-marriage/babies, Hema Malini is the only one who still holds true to her Dream Girl appeal.

At 62, she's certainly not dancing around trees anymore or batting eyelashes at the handsome hero but the Seeta Aur Geeta star bears a regal aura and magnetism that puts her in a class and category of her own.

Early 1980s saw Bollywood's leading lady engage in a whirlwind romance with Dharmendra that graduated in marriage and two daughters Esha and Ahana. Her personal equation didn't affect her career as she juggled numerous film projects ranging from Andha Kanoon, Yudh , Nastik and Ek Chaddar Maili Si and classical dance concerts before going on to direct serials (Noopur), films (Dil Aashna Hai) and playing a stunning leading lady to Amitabh Bachchan in Baghban, Babul, Veer-Zaara and Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap.