Actress Swara Bhasker has spoken candidly about her journey to motherhood, revealing that she once considered becoming a mother through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) without marriage and underwent two unsuccessful IVF attempts with an anonymous donor. The actor shared the details while interacting with fellow contestants on Rise and Fall Season 2, recalling a period when she had begun to believe that marriage might not happen but remained determined to experience motherhood.
Swara said she had discussed her plans with her parents and told them she was considering IVF because she did not want to wait for marriage to become a mother. Her parents were initially surprised but eventually supported her decision after understanding that motherhood was something she genuinely wanted. She acknowledged that they also warned her about the challenges of raising a child as a single mother in India, but ultimately respected her choice.
The actor revealed that she subsequently underwent two rounds of IVF using an anonymous donor. Both attempts were unsuccessful. Despite the setbacks, Swara’s plans for motherhood eventually took an unexpected turn when she met politician Fahad Ahmad in January 2020 during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in New Delhi. The meeting developed into a relationship, changing the course of the plans she had previously made for her personal life.
Recalling the beginning of their relationship, Swara described how quickly their connection developed. The couple eventually decided to marry, registering their marriage in Mumbai on February 16, 2023. They later celebrated the union with traditional ceremonies attended by family members and friends. At the time of their marriage, Fahad was associated with the Samajwadi Party and was serving as Maharashtra president of its youth wing, the Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha.
A few months after their marriage, Swara and Fahad announced that they were expecting their first child. Their daughter, Raabiyaa, was born on September 23, 2023. The couple announced her arrival two days later, describing their daughter as a blessing and a prayer that had been answered. Swara had announced her pregnancy in June that year, sharing the news with her followers on social media.
Swara’s recent comments offer a glimpse into the different stages of her personal journey, from considering single motherhood and undergoing fertility treatment to eventually finding a partner and starting a family. Her experience also highlights the emotional and practical complexities surrounding assisted reproduction, relationships and parenthood.
The actor’s revelations come as conversations around fertility, reproductive choices and changing family structures have become increasingly visible in public discourse. IVF has provided many people with an option to pursue parenthood, although the process can involve significant emotional, physical and financial challenges, and successful outcomes are not guaranteed.
For Swara, the decision to explore IVF was initially shaped by her desire to become a mother irrespective of whether marriage happened in her life. Her two unsuccessful attempts did not end that aspiration. Her subsequent relationship with Fahad eventually led to marriage and the birth of their daughter, creating a family journey that unfolded differently from the path she had originally imagined.
By sharing the story publicly, Swara has also highlighted how personal plans can change with circumstances. What began as an individual decision to pursue motherhood independently eventually became part of a larger family story involving marriage, parenthood and the arrival of her daughter.
