Sania Mirza opens up about her personal life after divorce with Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has opened up about her personal struggles and challenges as a mother and working woman, a year after confirming her divorce with Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik. In a recent interview, Sania shared her honest thoughts about parenting, career, and the unfair expectations society places on women.

Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik were one of the most talked-about cross-border celebrity couples after they got married in 2010. However, after years of speculation around their relationship, Sania confirmed their divorce in early 2024. The news came shortly after Shoaib Malik surprised fans by announcing his second marriage to Pakistani actress Sana Javed.

Sania says it’s not an equal world

Speaking on Masoom Minawala podcast about how her life changed after becoming a mother, Sania said, “That’s why I said right at the beginning, it’s not an equal world. Yes, both men and women are part of creating a child, but after that, men usually go back to work, take trips, and do what they want. Women do that too, but we also carry the extra responsibility of caregiving most of the time.”

She added that even in families where husbands are considered “hands-on,” the reality is often far from equal. “It’s still probably a 75–25 split, not 50–50. That’s just how things have been for generations. The woman is expected to take care of the house and family.”

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“We want to work, travel, and achieve things that are outside the usual box. But people expect us to choose, either work or family. And I ask, if men don’t have to choose, then why should we?”

Sania on toughest part of motherhood

Sania also spoke about her motherhood journey, especially the early months after giving birth to her son Izhaan. She said breastfeeding was the hardest part for her. “I breastfed for 2.5 to 3 months. For me, that was the toughest part of the pregnancy. I can be pregnant three more times, but this feeding part? I don’t know if I can do that again.”

She explained that it wasn’t about the physical pain, but the emotional and mental pressure. “As working women, it ties you down. The baby is completely dependent, and everything you do, sleep, travel, work, has to be planned around feeding.”

Sania also shared how difficult it was for her the first time she left her baby. “Izhaan was just six weeks old when I had to go to Delhi for an event. I was so emotional and didn’t want to go. It was the hardest flight I’ve ever taken. We give ourselves mom guilt, but honestly, kids are fine. People do this all the time,” she recalled.