Sania Saeed on motherhood: why she never had children
Veteran Pakistani actress Sania Saeed has spoken candidly about motherhood and why she never had children of her own, saying she never felt confident she could fulfil the responsibilities that raising a child demands. The 54-year-old actress shared her views during an appearance on fellow actress Atiqa Odho’s podcast, “In Conversation With Atiqa Odho”.
“The affection of animals is more precious to me”
During the conversation, Odho asked Saeed whether her many pets — she keeps 12 rescued cats — compensated for not having children, or whether she ever felt a “void”. Saeed answered that she had never thought of it that way, and that pets and children each have their own distinct place in people’s lives.
“I feel, and this is an unpopular opinion, but I find the affection of animals is more precious to me,” Saeed said. “For one thing, I never really felt anything for not having kids.”
The actress, known most recently for playing motherly roles in the popular dramas Dar-e-Nijaat and Aap Ki Izzat, said she would have enjoyed having children and likes kids, but questioned whether she could meet the full commitment parenthood requires.
A question of responsibility, not affection
“Maybe I didn’t have children because I didn’t have the confidence that I could fulfil my responsibilities to them,” Saeed said, explaining that becoming a mother means taking complete responsibility for a child’s upbringing and putting the child’s needs before everything else.
When Odho called her “maternal”, Saeed mused that she would have liked to have had children: “I would have had fun; I like kids, it’s not that I don’t like kids.” She described herself as perhaps a “mother-and-a-half” despite not having children of her own.
Saeed also addressed growing older without children to depend on, saying she would deal with that stage of life when it arrives, and adding that having children does not necessarily guarantee support in old age.
A voice that keeps sparking debate
The interview has drawn wide attention on social media, with many praising Saeed’s honesty about a subject that is rarely discussed openly in Pakistan. The actress has never shied away from difficult conversations. In a recent appearance on Nida Yasir’s morning show, she said most Pakistanis are not equipped to be parents because of a lack of mental health awareness, asking whether couples are themselves prepared, mature enough and sorted in their relationships before having a child.
Saeed’s remarks on motherhood follow her recent interviews about her roles in Dar-e-Nijaat, where she plays the mother of the show’s male lead, and Aap Ki Izzat, in which she plays a mother-in-law. Her comments on the burden of keeping a family together falling on women also drew attention earlier this year.
The interview comes in a week when showbiz stories have dominated headlines, from Jemima Goldsmith’s accusations against Russell Brand (https://ntmnews.online/?p=4568) to the Booker Prize 2026 announcement (https://ntmnews.online/?p=4539), showing how celebrity interviews continue to drive conversation far beyond entertainment pages.
What happens next
The podcast episode continues to circulate widely, with clips of Saeed’s remarks on motherhood being shared across social media platforms. The conversation adds to an ongoing public discussion in Pakistan about parenting, personal choice and the pressures women face around motherhood.
Sources: Dawn Images, Samaa TV and 24NewsHD, 10 November 2026