In this episode of Second Sunrises, Ramya Subramanian and Suhasini talk about relationships, the idea of moving on, and why it’s important not to place someone else at the centre of our lives.

Through a candid conversation, they reflect on love, self-worth, and the realisation that sometimes life begins to feel lighter when we learn to bring the focus back to ourselves.

Like many conversations on Second Sunrises, this one gently reminds us that new beginnings and second chances often start with a small shift in how we see ourselves and the lives we want to build.

Chapters:

00:00 Highlights of the podcast Episode

01:00 Meet Ramya Subramanian

02:28 Making Guests Comfortable

04:40 Starting Work at 14

06:15 Early Money and Discipline

08:48 Body Image and Fitness Shift

11:59 Family Limits and Film Offers

14:04 Arranged Marriage Reality

16:59 Choosing Yourself After Marriage

19:05 Relationship Advice in Public Eye

20:46 Choosing Yourself First

21:57 Handling Criticism Better

24:30 Optimism After Failure

29:28 Authenticity on Social Media

31:08 Learning Money Management

36:57 Love As Friendship

38:25 Defining Second Chances

We rarely talk about how much marriage changes as we change.

In this episode of Second Sunrises, Sudha Menon speaks about the early years of marriage, the learning curve of growing up within a relationship, and the emotional shifts that time brings. With the clarity that comes from lived experience and years of listening to women’s stories, she reflects on how perspective reshapes the way we respond, communicate, and connect. She speaks about the importance of feeling heard. About how maturity alters conflict. About how two people can either drift through change or consciously grow through it. The conversation also touches on post-partum depression and the quiet strain it can place on a relationship, reminding us that compassion and patience are not luxuries in marriage. They are necessities. This episode is a gentle but honest look at what it really takes to stay connected over time.

Chapters:

00:00 Highlights of the podcast episode

01:04 Introducing Sudha Menon

01:37 Bombay to Pune Shift

03:18 Finding Identity in Journalism

04:49 Young Marriage and Reality Check

06:22 Postpartum and Pressure

07:37 Family Guilt and Divorce

09:36 Female Friends as Lifeline

13:13 Shared Parenting Support

15:20 Second Marriage at 40

18:40 Life in Pune Today

19:01 Never Settling Down

19:35 Fifties as Freedom

21:38 Writing Leading Ladies

23:46 Accidental Acting Break

25:21 Next Skills to Learn

26:00 Advice to Other Women

28:14 Reconnecting With Mother

30:40 Calling Out Ageism

35:24 Dancing for Yourself

36:25 Closing Reflections

Life doesn’t always follow one straight story. And not every choice in life fits a single definition of happiness. And sometimes, happiness is found not in permanence, but in honesty.

Second Sunrises is a podcast series that honours renewal, inner strength, and the quiet power of beginning again.

In this episode, Pooja Bedi joins Suhasini Maniratnam for a candid and refreshing conversation, one that speaks openly about love, marriage, divorce, and the strength it takes to embrace every phase of life with clarity and confidence. Pooja reflects on being happy in marriage, equally at peace after divorce, and unapologetically honest about relationships that felt right, and, in fact, were absolutely the right choices, at different moments in her journey.

With warmth and wit, she shares how she navigated the industry, public perception, and personal decisions, always with a positive outlook and a wonderfully sporting spirit.

This conversation is about self-acceptance, emotional freedom, and the courage to live life on your own terms, without regret. Because growth doesn’t come from fitting into boxes. It comes from honouring who you are, exactly when you need it the most. Watch the full episode and join a conversation that celebrates honesty, resilience, and living life on your own terms.

00:00 Highlights of the podcast episode

00:54 Meet Pooja Bedi

02:32 Pooja Bedi’s Multicultural Lineage

03:58 Bohemian Childhood

05:17 Parenting Philosophy

07:53 From Sex Symbol to Rebel Icon

11:14 Choosing Marriage and Quitting Films

14:35 Motherhood, Divorce & Starting Over as a Single Working Mom

18:46 Rethinking What Separation Means

19:49 When Divorce Becomes the Healthiest Option

20:58 Breaking the ‘Stay for the Kids’ Myth

22:33 Co-Parenting with Love

23:49 Mindset Shifts & Rewriting the Divorce Narrative

24:36 Building an Empowering Second Chapter

26:15 Second Chances vs Society

29:09 Setting Boundaries

30:43 Proud Mom Moment

32:40 Defining Real Success

33:13 Courage to Love Again

34:38 No Regrets, Only Growth

36:36 Self-Forgiveness Meditation & Final Takeaway

Not every chapter in life goes as planned. But sometimes, the unexpected paths shape us in the most meaningful ways. 

 Second Sunrises is a podcast series that honours renewal, inner strength, and the quiet power of beginning again. In this episode, Mamta Mohandas joins Suhasini Maniratnam for an open and deeply personal dialogue. Together, they reflect on pivotal moments, personal evolution, and the resilience it takes to move forward when life takes an unexpected turn. This conversation moves through vulnerability, wisdom, and hope — reminding us that growth often emerges from life’s most challenging seasons. 

 Because sometimes, the most beautiful beginnings come after the hardest endings.

🌅 Watch the full episode and be part of a journey that celebrates courage, clarity, and new perspectives. 

 Second Sunrises. By Jos Alukkas.

Chapters:

05:27 - Accidental Foray into Cinema

10:07 - Dating, Hasty Marriage, and Divorce

17:03 - Post-Diagnosis Marriage Challenges and Divorce

19:04 - Cancer's Transformative Impact on Life and Relationships

23:21 - Finding Support & Moments of Humor During Treatment

33:52 - Modern Dating and Family Dynamics

44:02 - Embracing Openness, Future Outlook & Life Advice

Life doesn’t always go the way we plan, but it always gives us chances to start over. ‘Second Sunrises’ is a space to accept, embrace and celebrate those second chances. The moments that teach us courage and help us become the best versions of ourselves.

Ms. Mamta Mohandas (actor, producer, and playback singer) sits down with our host, Ms. Suhasini Maniratnam, to share heartfelt stories from her journey. They talk about life’s unexpected turns, the lessons learnt along the way, and the small, powerful moments that remind us why hope and resilience matter. Through laughter, reflection, and honesty, this conversation shows how embracing life’s do-overs can open the door to new beginnings, fresh perspectives, and moments that stay with us forever.