Mahira Khan pregnant at 41: ‘It wasn’t planned’—actor explains why ‘this time has been very different’

On September 13, 2026, while in Toronto for TIFF 2026, Mahira shared a photograph of herself in a flowing white gown, revealing her baby bump.

“We make plans and then there is ALLAH'S plan,” she captioned the post.

The announcement confirmed that Mahira is expecting her second child at 41, and her first with husband Salim Karim.

Mahira Khan on motherhood at 41

Mahira had welcomed her first child, son Azlaan, with her then-husband Ali Askari. The couple parted ways in 2015, five years after the birth of their son.

In an interview with Dawn Images, Mahira, who embraced motherhood for the first time at 24, revealed that her second pregnancy was unplanned.

The actor said that being pregnant at 41 has been physically more difficult than when she was 24.

“I was 24 when I first got pregnant,” Mahira said, reflecting on how much her life and perspective have changed since then.

She also spoke about the emotional adjustment involved in welcoming another child when her first son is now grown up.

According to Mahira, she is “literally a different woman” compared with the person she was during her first pregnancy.

“At 24, I think I went through pregnancy with a certain innocence. I was excited, my health was great, and perhaps I didn’t think too much about everything that could happen. I just went with it.

“This time has been very different. Physically, it’s been harder. There are days when my body simply doesn’t allow me to do what my mind thinks I should be able to do. And that has been an adjustment for me because I’m used to being on the go, working, travelling, doing a hundred things at once,” Mahira said.

‘There’s obviously a very visible bump’

In the candid interview, Mahira, who described herself as a private person, also opened up about being conscious of her attire at TIFF.

“Strangely, this time around I’ve been thinking about it as more than just, ‘What am I wearing on the red carpet?’” she said.

“There’s obviously a very visible bump coming with me! So, what I wear and how I present myself feels a little more personal this time,” the actor added.

Mahira Khan and Salim Karim

Mahira started dating businessman Salim Karim in 2019, and the couple tied the knot in 2023.

The actor has largely kept her personal life private, making her pregnancy announcement on social media a significant moment for her fans.

On the work front

Mahira Khan was recently seen alongside Fahad Mustafa in the Pakistani crime-comedy film Aag Lagay Basti Mein, which released theatrically in 2026.

She also made her Toronto International Film Festival debut this year with Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.

The actor is additionally part of Netflix's upcoming Pakistani original Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo, which features Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed and Hania Aamir, among others.