TORONTO (Kashmir English): Making her debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, renowned Pakistani actress Mahira Khan not only represented Pakistan and South Asia on a global cinematic platform but also shared the happy news that she is expecting her second child.
She revealed that she is set to become a mother again after 17 years; her first child is a son named Azlan, whom she gave birth to when she was 24.
The 41-year-old actress remarked that the experience of pregnancy this time around is vastly different and more challenging than the first.
She noted that much has changed physically and emotionally at this stage of life, and she is experiencing a mix of emotions: joy alongside fear, fatigue, and heightened sensitivity.
Mahira Khan mentioned that she usually keeps her private life guarded and felt some hesitation about revealing the pregnancy particularly regarding her choice of attire for the red carpet but ultimately decided to embrace her current reality rather than conceal it.
She reflected that while humans make many plans, God’s plans prevail; her current life journey has taught her that instead of trying to control everything, it is sometimes essential to simply accept life’s unfolding decisions.
Toronto International Film Festival
At the Toronto International Film Festival, Mahira Khan hosted a discussion as part of the festival’s Community Impact Program and was also honored with an award recognizing her contributions to cinema and her efforts to bring underrepresented stories to a global audience.
Speaking to Images, Mahira Khan stated that the Toronto Film Festival is one of those events where she has always aspired to watch new films; however, at this stage of her career, what matters most to her is the opportunity to present Pakistan as a significant South Asian voice on a global platform.
She remarked that Pakistan possesses its own stories, identity, and cinema, and that highlighting Pakistan’s unique voice while representing South Asia globally is of great importance to her.
Additionally, Mahira Khan and Bassam Tariq will be honored with the ‘Muslim Excellence in Cinema and Art’ award by the Muslim International Film Festival Toronto in recognition of their contributions to cinema and the arts.
