New Delhi:Tennis icon Sania Mirza has opened up about the emotional and practical challenges of raising her son Izhaan as a single parent following her divorce from former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik. In a candid conversation with filmmaker Karan Johar, Mirza described her parenting journey as both demanding and deeply transformative.
Mirza and Malik, whose high-profile cross-border marriage took place in 2010 in a traditional Hyderabadi Muslim ceremony, welcomed their son Izhaan in 2018. In early 2024, Mirza’s family confirmed that the couple had quietly separated a few months prior.
Speaking about life after divorce, Mirza admitted that navigating single parenthood while maintaining a busy professional schedule can be overwhelming. “Single parenting is hard, especially when you’re working and juggling so many responsibilities,” she said.
Johar, who has spoken openly about his own experience raising children as a single parent, noted that while the independence can sometimes feel liberating, Mirza’s situation carries additional layers of complexity. “Yours is cross-border as well,” he remarked. “It’s even more daunting and overwhelming.”
Mirza shared that her biggest struggle is being away from her son when work brings her to India. “I live in Dubai, and every time I have to leave him for a week, it feels incredibly difficult,” she said. “That’s the hardest part for me.”
She also spoke about moments of loneliness that come with raising a child alone. “There have been so many nights when I skipped dinner because I didn’t want to eat by myself,” she revealed. “I’d rather watch something and go to sleep.”
Despite the emotional challenges, Mirza’s career achievements remain remarkable. A former world No. 1 in doubles, she claimed six Grand Slam titles and reigned as India’s top singles player from 2003 until she retired from singles competition in 2013.
Mirza’s reflections shed light on the often unseen emotional terrain of single parenting, especially under the public gaze and across borders.
