Mahira Khan
Mahira Khan, the actress who etched herself in our memory with her debut in the Indian action film Raees, has always maintained a guarded stance when it comes to her personal life. From her breakthrough in the 2017 Shah Rukh Khan-starrer that catapulted her into Bollywood's 100 Crore Club, to being Pakistan's most popular and highest-paid actress, Khan's journey has been one of success and discretion. However, in a recent podcast, she opened the door to her private world.
The Pakistani star's journey took her across the ocean to Los Angeles at just 17 years old, a move ignited by love. Khan candidly revealed in the FWhy Podcast, "We were always supposed to go to LA since my uncles were already there. But at 17, I insisted that I go early since I was in love and he was there. But, after going there, mujhe meri naani yaad aa gayi (things got difficult for me)."
Mahira recollected that despite flying to LA for love, she and Ali Askari, her then-partner, faced a breakup. However, love rekindled, leading them to mend their relationship. While pursuing her studies in LA, she veered from her academic path midway to embrace marriage with Ali in 2007. Their traditional wedding ceremony was followed by her return to Pakistan.
In 2009, the couple welcomed their son, Azlaan, into the world. Yet, by 2015, the couple's love story concluded in a divorce. Mahira openly expressed the challenges of that period, acknowledging, "Post Azu, I knew my marriage wasâ¦even prior, I think. But I think you let it go on and you love the person, who is your childhood sweetheart. But I think that was a very painful and difficult time. I was so young at the time. I had a baby, I was scared."
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Reflecting on her divorce, Mahira stated, "When you are going through it, it is very painful. You are sitting in a room, and you feel the walls are closing in on you. You feel anxious and you don't know what it is. I think that is more painful than when you make a decision."
During the initial years of separation, the actress revealed the complexity of their parting, saying, "The first few years were very painful because it was about two good people, it was not an abusive relationship. But it was like two kids had gotten married and sometimes two people evolve differently. There was a little bit of pressure to go back as well."
However, it was her child who gave her the strength to stand on her own. Mahira expressed, "I knew that I would take my child but I knew that I didn't want to be dependent on anyone, not even my parents. When there was nobody with me, I had my work. It was a huge support."
This revelation provides a poignant insight into the actress's journey, where personal and professional triumphs were met with challenges that shaped her into the resilient figure she is today.
