Bollywood filmmaker Farah Khan and tennis icon Sania Mirza recently opened up about their enduring friendship, motherhood, and emotional challenges during an intimate conversation on Sania’s podcast Serving It Up with Sania. The episode offered a candid glimpse into Sania’s journey as a single parent and Farah’s reflections on parenting, societal pressures, and changing family dynamics.
Farah Khan on society’s obsession with struggle
During their heartfelt chat, Sania spoke about how perceptions of success and struggle have evolved. Responding to her, Farah expressed concern over how people today glamorise hardship:
“I think today everyone wants a struggle story, even people who don’t have one. Financial struggle is the most obvious and the most difficult because then you are not free to pursue what you want. It becomes about surviving each day.”
Farah’s candid take resonated deeply with Sania, who agreed that challenges—whether emotional or financial—shape a person’s outlook but shouldn’t define their worth.
Discussing children, separation, and changing times
The Main Hoon Na director reflected on how family structures and social perceptions have evolved, especially regarding separation and divorce.
“In our time, we couldn’t even tell our school friends that our parents were separated. Now, in my children’s school, it’s so normalised because every second person is from a broken home. But however much you normalise it, a child always gets affected,” Farah said.
Sania responded by emphasising the importance of choosing emotional wellbeing over appearances.
“A child will get affected anyway, so you have to decide what’s the better situation. If a child is watching two people extremely unhappy, then certain calls have to be taken. You can’t fake it because children always understand.”
Farah praises Sania’s strength as a single mother
Farah then turned to her friend with admiration, commending Sania for handling motherhood and career with resilience after her separation.
“You are now a single mother. Nothing is more difficult than that. You work, you travel, and still give your son time. I’ve seen your worst days and your best moments, and you’ve handled both equally well.”
The tennis legend humbly acknowledged the challenges of balancing parenting with personal struggles.
“It’s very, very hard. We all have our journeys, and we must choose what’s best. Every decision comes with its own pain.”
A moment of vulnerability and friendship
Sania also recalled a deeply emotional incident when Farah stood by her during one of her toughest days.
“There was a moment when I had to go on a live show, and I was shivering. If you hadn’t come that day, I wouldn’t have done it. You told me, ‘No matter what, you are doing this show.’”
Farah revealed how she rushed to be with Sania, saying,
“I got scared seeing her like that. I left my own shoot, came in my pyjamas and chappal. That’s what friends are for.”
Their conversation left fans emotional, praising the duo’s genuine bond built on empathy and mutual respect.
Sania Mirza’s life after divorce
Sania Mirza married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik in 2010, and the couple welcomed their son, Izhaan Mirza Malik, in 2018. After years of speculation about their marriage, they officially divorced in early 2024. Shoaib Malik later married Pakistani actress Sana Javed in a private ceremony in Karachi.
Since the separation, Sania has spoken openly about motherhood, emotional healing, and resilience. Her podcast Serving It Up with Sania continues to feature candid conversations with personalities who have faced personal and professional crossroads.
Through her discussion with Farah Khan, Sania once again reminded listeners of the strength it takes to navigate public life, parenthood, and personal loss with dignity.