Tennis icon Sania Mirza has opened up about the challenges of parenting and the realities of being a single mother in a heartfelt conversation with her close friend and Bollywood filmmaker Farah Khan on her YouTube show Serving It Up with Sania.

Speaking with honesty and vulnerability, Sania reflected on the difficult decisions parents sometimes face within a marriage.

Responding to Farah’s comments about how separation affects children, Sania shared, “A child will get affected anyway. What matters is choosing the situation that is better for them. If a child is constantly watching two people who are deeply unhappy, then certain decisions have to be made.”

She added that children are far more perceptive than adults realize, saying that kids can sense when parents are “faking” happiness.

Farah, who has raised her children as a single mother, empathized deeply and noted, “There is nothing more difficult than being a single mom,” praising Sania for gracefully balancing her responsibilities while navigating personal challenges.

In a touching exchange, Sania recalled a particularly difficult moment in her life, describing how Farah’s presence gave her the strength to continue.

“I remember being at one of my lowest points. You came to my set, and I was shaking… If Farah hadn’t told me, ‘No matter what, you are going and doing this show,’ I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

Sania’s candid conversation highlighted the emotional weight of parenting, resilience, and the power of genuine friendship.

It is known that Sania and former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik parted ways after 12 years of marriage.

Their son, Izhaan Mirza Malik, lives primarily with Sania, with both parents committed to co-parenting. Malik has since married Pakistani actor Sana Javed.