Indian tennis legend Sania Mirza has revealed the profound challenges she faces as a single parent navigating life after her separation from Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. During an emotional conversation on her podcast 'Serving It Up With Sania' featuring filmmaker Karan Johar, the athlete opened up about the difficulties of cross-border parenting that requires constant travel between Dubai and India.
The Cross-Border Parenting Challenge
Mirza explained that her son Izhaan continues to live in Dubai, where the family was based during her marriage, while her professional commitments frequently require her to travel to India. The constant back-and-forth between countries has become the most exhausting aspect of her new reality. "I find it challenging to leave him because I live in Dubai and I travel to India. That's the biggest challenge for me," she confessed to Johar.
Even though her mother stays with Izhaan and manages household affairs during her absences, the tennis star revealed that being away for week-long stretches feels emotionally heavy. Karan Johar immediately recognized the unique complexity of her situation, noting that while independent parenting can be liberating, Mirza's circumstances involve additional layers of cross-border coordination and emotional strain. "Yours is more daunting," the filmmaker acknowledged.
Loneliness and Emotional Struggles
Beyond the logistical challenges, Sania spoke candidly about the quiet loneliness that has followed her separation. The former tennis champion shared that she has frequently skipped dinners simply because she didn't want to eat alone. While she joked that this unintentional habit helped her lose weight, the underlying message highlighted the difficulty of navigating evenings without companionship.
Previous Struggles with Panic Attacks
This isn't the first time Mirza has discussed the overwhelming pressure of balancing work and motherhood post-separation. In an earlier episode of her podcast with filmmaker Farah Khan, she recalled experiencing a severe panic attack while on set. Farah Khan remembered receiving a distressed call from Sania and immediately rushing to her aid "in pyjamas and chappal," leaving her own shoot to support her friend.
Mirza confirmed this was one of her lowest moments, occurring just before she had to perform a live show. She credited Farah Khan's firm support with helping her push through the crisis, recalling how the filmmaker insisted, "No matter what, you are doing this show."
The 39-year-old athlete acknowledged that her routine is still evolving as she adapts to the demands of travel, scheduling, and the delicate balancing act that comes with co-parenting across international borders. While the demands of parenting remain unchanged, she noted that the structure supporting them has fundamentally shifted since her separation from Shoaib Malik.
