In a heartfelt revelation, Sushmita Sen, the acclaimed former Miss Universe, has opened up about the arduous legal process she navigated to adopt her first daughter, Renee, back in 2000. As a single woman at the age of 24, Sen faced significant societal biases and legal challenges, despite adoption laws not explicitly prohibiting single women from adopting.
Recalling the experience in a conversation with Dr. Sheen Gurrib on YouTube, Sen described the emotional toll of the legal battle. “I had my daughter under foster care with me, but living with that constant trauma of what if the family court does not pass this in my favour,” she shared. In a moment of intense fear, she even devised a plan with her father, suggesting they “run away” with the baby if the adoption wasn’t granted, a plan her father wisely dismissed.
Sen expressed immense pride in her father, Shubeer Sen, whose unwavering support was instrumental in the adoption’s success. She recounted how her father, when asked by the court to pledge half his assets to support the adoption, declared, “I am not a very rich man, so if you take half of that, it will be nothing. I have come to sign unconditionally everything I own in her name.” This unconditional commitment reassured the court.
Adding another layer to the societal prejudices faced, Sen revealed that the judge had warned her father that her unmarried status might hinder her marriage prospects. Her father’s strong rebuttal, stating he hadn’t raised her merely to be someone’s wife, was a turning point. This pivotal moment led to the adoption being granted.
Sen noted that adopting her second daughter, Alisah, in 2010, was a significantly smoother process, which she described as a “cakewalk.” She affirmed her deep-seated desire to be a mother, a sentiment strongly supported by her family’s dedication throughout these journeys.