Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan recently opened up about her personal journey to motherhood through IVF, becoming one of the first celebrities to speak openly about the process at a time when it was considered taboo. Sharing her experiences on a podcast with Sania Mirza, Farah recalled the emotional rollercoaster of her IVF treatments and the profound support she received from her husband, Shirish Kunder.
Farah noted that while IVF was a known procedure, public discussion around it was limited due to societal stigma. She mentioned that she felt comfortable discussing it because it was legal for her, and since becoming a mother to triplets, she has actively recommended egg freezing and IVF to others.
Detailing the difficulties she encountered during IVF, Farah described how carrying triplets intensified the side effects. She experienced severe vomiting, stomach rashes, and frequent trips to the restroom due to the pressure from her pregnancies. Sleeping became challenging as she had to use a recliner. The daily injections, administered on her thigh or other areas, were a constant part of her routine. When the treatment failed twice, she recounted feeling immense sadness, spending days crying in bed, all while simultaneously filming ‘Om Shanti Om’.
The filming schedule of ‘Om Shanti Om’ presented its own set of challenges. However, a crucial one-and-a-half-month break that star Shah Rukh Khan took annually to visit London with his children proved to be a blessing in disguise for Farah. This unexpected break allowed her to focus on her IVF treatment without the pressures of work. At 42, with only four eggs remaining, Farah was hopeful about conceiving.
Farah also emphasized the deep support from her husband, Shirish Kunder, throughout her IVF journey and pregnancy. She shared how he accompanied her on every alternate day to the hospital for her 1.5-hour drives, never missing a single appointment. Shirish also took on caregiving roles during her pregnancy, including bathing and cleaning her, tasks that are often private. Farah recalled his supportive reaction when IVF failed the first two times, with him reassuring her that not having children was okay, although she knew how much he desired them. She highlighted his significant involvement with their children, noting that he spends the most time with them, considering them his best friends.
Farah Khan and Shirish Kunder, who married in 2004 after meeting during the production of ‘Main Hoon Na’, welcomed their triplets—Diva, Anya, and Czar—in 2008. Farah generally prefers to maintain privacy regarding her family life, sharing fewer personal details and pictures of her children.