At 35, actress Kriti Sanon froze her eggs before gaining 15 kg for Mimi. Gynaecologist explains the ideal age, side effects and important facts

Kriti Sanon is currently enjoying all the love and praise for her performance in Cocktail 2. Amid this, the actress recently opened up about a deeply personal decision she made before filming her National Award-winning film Mimi. The 35-year-old actress revealed that she chose to freeze her eggs before gaining 15 kg for the role, saying she did not want to feel pressured by her biological clock when it came to marriage or motherhood.

Her candid admission has sparked conversations about fertility preservation, with many women wondering what egg freezing involves, the right age to undergo the procedure, and whether it guarantees pregnancy in the future. To answer these questions, ET spoke to Dr. Shweta Mendiratta, Director and Unit Head, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yatharth Hospital, Faridabad.

Kriti Sanon opens up about freezing her eggs

Speaking to Humans of Bombay, Kriti revealed that she froze her eggs a few years ago after thinking about the expectations surrounding marriage and motherhood.


She said, "Honestly, I froze my eggs. So there was a time when I was thinking about these questions, and I never wanted to be tied down to the fact that I need to get married now or I need to have kids now, and I am doing it because I have a timeline."

The actress explained that she believes major life decisions should come from personal readiness rather than societal expectations. Kriti also revealed that she carefully planned the procedure before beginning the physical transformation for Mimi, in which she had to gain 15 kg to portray a surrogate mother.

Recalling the timing, she said, "I did it very smartly during that time when I had to gain weight for Mimi. It makes you bloat. I spoke to someone who told me about it and said that this is the best thing you can do for yourself if you can. It's the best gift you can give yourself. And it was playing on my mind. When I was told to gain weight, I realised I had two months of no shoot, and all I am supposed to do is gain weight, and this is a film on surrogacy, so let me just do it because I felt everything."

Despite describing the experience as demanding, she said she has no regrets.

What is egg freezing and when is the ideal age?

According to Dr. Shweta Mendiratta, egg freezing is a fertility preservation method that allows women to store unfertilised eggs for future use.

She explained that the process begins with a detailed consultation, fertility assessment, ultrasound scans and blood tests to evaluate ovarian reserve. This is followed by 10 to 12 days of hormone injections that stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Doctors closely monitor the response through regular scans and blood tests before retrieving the mature eggs through a minimally invasive procedure performed under anaesthesia. The eggs are then preserved using a rapid freezing technique called vitrification.

When asked about the ideal age, Dr. Mendiratta said "Because the number and quality of eggs inevitably drop with age, freezing eggs early is generally better. The optimal age is often 28 to 35 years with a stronger ovarian reserve. Freezing eggs at 35 can still be a good option, especially for women who are not ready to conceive, but want to protect their fertility. But the results tend to be better if the eggs are frozen before a woman reaches her mid-30s. The decision should be based on a person’s health, ovarian reserve, reproductive objectives and medical history, not just on age."

In the earlier interview, Kriti revealed that she underwent the procedure before intentionally gaining weight for Mimi. Addressing whether body weight influences egg freezing, Dr. Mendiratta said significant planned weight gain may temporarily affect hormonal balance and ovarian function.

She explained that if a woman is healthy and has a normal body mass index (BMI), freezing eggs before major weight changes may help preserve them under optimal physiological conditions. However, she stressed that there is no universal rule and every decision should be made after an individual fertility assessment and medical consultation.

The gynaecologist also addressed the side effects Kriti described. The expert said that, "During the hormone stimulation period it is usual to feel mild bloating, abdominal discomfort, breast soreness, mood swings and exhaustion as the ovaries briefly increase in size and many eggs mature. Most women can continue with their usual daily routines, but others may want to reduce vigorous exercise. You will also likely experience mild cramps or spotting for a day or two after the egg retrieval process. Serious problems are rare, especially when using current methods and close monitoring. Most adverse effects are transitory, and generally go away within a few days of egg collection."

Egg freezing offers flexibility, but not a guarantee

While egg freezing has become increasingly popular among women who want to delay motherhood for personal, professional or medical reasons, Dr. Mendiratta cautioned that it should not be viewed as a guarantee of future pregnancy.

She explained that the success of egg freezing depends on several factors, including the woman's age at the time of freezing, the number and quality of eggs preserved, and her overall reproductive health. She also advised women to undergo proper counselling before choosing the procedure so they understand its benefits, limitations, costs and the possibility that assisted reproductive treatments may still be required later.