Pakistani actress Mahira Khan says she never expected to become a mother again at this stage of her life, describing her pregnancy as an emotional and physically challenging new chapter.
Khan announced on Instagram a day earlier that she was expecting her second child, prompting an outpouring of congratulations and good wishes from fans and fellow celebrities.
Speaking in an interview with a female journalist during the Toronto International Film Festival, Khan opened up about her pregnancy and how different the experience has been from becoming a mother for the first time.
“I did not expect to become a mother again at this stage of my life,” Khan said, explaining that her life had already taken a particular direction. Her son had grown older, while she had become accustomed to her work, routines and independence.
The actor said she had imagined her life following a certain path, but beginning the journey of motherhood again after many years had brought a significant emotional change.
Khan said people make plans for their lives, but “Allah has His own plan,” which she described as the best plan.
She said the experience had taught her that people do not need to control everything or know the answer to every question in advance. Sometimes, she added, it is necessary to allow life to surprise you and surrender to God’s will.
Khan also reflected on the difference between her first pregnancy and her current experience.
She said she was 24 when she first became a mother and is now 41, making her emotionally and physically a different person.
The actor said her first experience came with a certain innocence, when she was healthy and less concerned about the possible challenges. This time, she said, the pregnancy has been physically more difficult.
“There are days when my body does not allow me to do what my mind wants,” Khan said, noting that she has always been used to staying busy, working, traveling and managing several things at once.
She said the experience was also emotionally different because people become more aware and cautious with age and develop a deeper understanding of life’s fragility and importance.
Khan said she was experiencing “fear, exhaustion and vulnerability” alongside immense happiness during her second pregnancy.
Khan married Ali Askari in 2007, and their son, Azlan, was born in September 2009. The couple divorced in 2016.
She later began a relationship with businessman Salim Karim, and the couple married in Bhurban in October 2023.