Former actor and Bigg Boss 6 fame Sana Khan, who quit the film industry in 2020 and married Muslim cleric and businessman Mufti Anas Saiyad a month later, has spoken about the perception that she was “brainwashed” into leaving Bollywood after marriage.

In a recent interview with actor Rashami Desai, Sana said that she was already undergoing a personal transformation at the time. “When our marriage was arranged, it was a top secret. Nobody except my mum and dad even knew the groom’s name. Even when the mehendi artist asked for his name, I didn’t reveal it. I was going through a major change in my life. I was transforming into a whole new person. This is something that I wanted, and he is the one who guided me,” she said.

Sana added that people drew conclusions after seeing her adopt the hijab and step away from the industry. “People think, ‘oh she used to roam without a hijab, and suddenly she’s become so this that. So maybe this guy has brainwashed her’. It’s never like that; nobody can brainwash you until and unless you want it. I wanted peace. A person might find fame, money and status, but at the end of the day, everyone wants inner peace,” she said.

She also stated that she left films because “when your surroundings aren’t right, your decisions are often wrong”, adding that she now deeply values her relationship with her husband. Sana and Anas are parents to two children.

Recently, on their return from Umrah in Mecca, Saiyad Sana Khan, her husband Anas Saiyad and son Saiyad Tariq Jamil were papped at the airport. In a video posted online, an angry Anas can be seen warning the paps not to click or share the photos of their baby. The former actor has never shown her child’s face in public.

She laments that when big stars want privacy for their kids, their wishes are respected, but the same courtesy wasn’t extended to her and her baby: “Yahi agar koi bade log hote and unko privacy chahie ho, toh unke baby ki photo nahin dikhaate. Their baby’s face is covered with an emoji. If we haven’t posted our baby’s face, why would you? I will decide when I want my child to be seen.”

As a parent, wanting to protect your child is natural. “My husband was mad at them because they were clicking photos. When I saw the video online, I was very angry, too, that after telling them many times, they still uploaded the video. Ab voh hogaya; I expect them not to click my baby’s pictures again,” she ends.

Saiyad Sana Khaan, who gave birth to a boy, Saiyad Tariq Jamil, on July 5, says breastfeeding has made the bond between her and her baby stronger. Talking about it during the World Breastfeeding Week (August 1 to 7), the former actor says, “Feeding your child is one of the most beautiful feelings in the world. It’s truly magical.”

The 34-year-old, who married Maulana Anas Saiyad in 2020, “doesn’t understand” why some new mums are apprehensive about breastfeeding: “A mother’s milk is healthy. It’s important for the child’s gut health, strengthens their immunity system and helps them grow.”

Besides benefitting the baby, breastfeeding helps a mum too. “Losing weight wasn’t on the top of my to-do list, but breastfeeding helped me lose almost 15 kg in a month,” says Khaan, who was seen in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017). She adds that she tried to eat things that “help with lactation”. “I consume foods that are high in protein and drink Harira with lots of dry fruits and saffron,” she ends.

Sana Khan, who quit showbiz in October 2020 and married Surat-based businessman, Maulana Anas Saiyad, delivered her first child on July 5. The couple has named their baby Saiyad Tariq Jamil. Sana shares, “We wanted a name that signifies piousness, gentleness, care and honesty. Jamil means beauty and Tariq means pleasant.”

Talking about motherhood, the former actress says, “It’s one of the best feelings in the world. Bringing a new life into the world is unimaginable. It’s a lifetime responsibility and you are accountable for everything good or bad happening in the child’s life.”

Husband Anas, too, is on cloud nine. She says, “He gets so emotional while looking at the baby that he sometimes has tears in his eyes.”

Sana has an interesting take on the pressure of losing weight soon after delivery. She says, “I get so paranoid when people talk about weight loss after pregnancy. Of course, everyone wants to lose weight, and so do I, but not at the cost of compromising on my health or not eating what’s required for my child’s growth. A new mother shouldn’t be made to believe that losing weight is more important than enjoying motherhood. I would rather promote the idea of being healthy. My child is my priority and weight loss can happen anytime.”