Mahira Khan's First Marriage At 23 Ended In Divorce, Meet Her Son Azlan Amid Second Pregnancy
Mahira Khan is expecting her second child with her husband, Salim Karim. Meet her first son, Azlan, whom she raised as a single mother after divorcing her first husband, Ali Askari.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleMahira Khan is entering another exciting chapter of her personal life. The Pakistani superstar has announced that she is expecting her second child with her husband, Salim Karim, nearly three years after their wedding. But before the actress found love again, she experienced a very different chapter of marriage, motherhood, and divorce.
The actress, 41, shared her pregnancy news on Instagram, posting a photo showing off her baby bump alongside a simple but emotional message about trusting a higher plan. Sharing the photo, the Humsafar star wrote, "We make plans ... and then there's God’s plan."
The announcement comes years after Khan welcomed her first child, son Azlan, with her former husband, Ali Askari. Her journey from becoming a young bride to a single mother and eventually finding love again has remained an important part of her story away from the spotlight.
Mahira Khan married Ali Askari against her parents' wishes
Mahira met Ali Askari during a trip to Los Angeles in 2006, and the relationship quickly turned serious. Her family, particularly her father Hafeez Khan, reportedly had reservations about the match when they got to know about the relationship. Despite the family opposition, Mahira and Ali decided to move forward with their relationship.
The couple married in a traditional nikah ceremony in 2007, when the actress was just 23 years old. Two years later, they welcomed their son, Azlan, on September 15, 2009. She often posts about the now-teenager on her social media, and their bond has remained strong over the years.
One of Mahira’s most memorable mentions of Azlan was when she opened up about those early days of motherhood. In September 2024, she shared a throwback photo from her hospital bed shortly after the birth of Azlan. The 24-year-old mother looks at her newborn son lying next to her in the photo. "24 year old me, looking at my entire world," she wrote while celebrating his birthday.
Despite going against her parents' wishes to be with whom she believed was the love of her life, Mahira's marriage eventually fell apart. In 2015, after eight years of marriage, Mahira and Ali parted ways through divorce. After the split, the actress was left to navigate single motherhood while also building her acting career in Pakistan.
In subsequent interviews, Mahira openly admitted that being a single mother meant that she had to put Azlan first, and that she often cut back on her professional obligations because she wanted to be with her son. The former couple has also worked to maintain a healthy relationship for their child.
In a 2021 interview with Fuchsia Magazine, Mahira said that both her and Ali's families were on the same page when it came to raising Azlan. "It takes work, it takes swallowing your pride at times," she said, adding that parents sometimes have to put aside their own feelings for the sake of their child.
Azlan had a special role in Mahira Khan's second wedding
Years after her divorce, Mahira eventually found love again with businessman Salim Karim. The couple married in a lavish but intimate wedding in October 2023 that quickly became one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings in Pakistan that year. And on his mother's big day, Azlan wasn't simply present as a guest at his mother's big day; he played a deeply emotional role in it.
When Mahira arrived in her bridal attire, she walked down the aisle alongside her son, fulfilling something she had imagined for years. Speaking about the moment, she revealed that she had always pictured her life as being centered around herself and Azlan. She said:
"It was a very big moment for me because I had always imagined my life to be me and Azlan. I wanted him to walk me down the aisle, so he did!"
Now, nearly three years after marrying Salim, Mahira is preparing to welcome another child. This will be her second baby and her first with her current husband. For Azlan, who once represented his mother's entire world as she navigated life as a young mother and single parent, the new arrival marks the beginning of an entirely different family chapter.
Congratulations, Mahira.
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