Sara Ali Khan opens up on being raised by her single mother Amrita Singh, 'A strong woman doesn’t fear having a voice'

Sara Ali Khan recently reflected on what strength means to her, crediting her upbringing for shaping her worldview. Speaking on aunt Soha Ali Khan’s podcast, the actress said, “For me, a strong woman is someone who doesn’t fear having a voice.” Emphasising inner empowerment, she added, “Today, society has evolved and women have become more free, but I think it starts from within. Your ability to emancipate yourself, to stand for what you believe in, and to stand up for yourself—that’s strength.”Acknowledging her own privilege, Sara admitted she has always been encouraged to speak her mind. “I’ve always had a voice. I’ve never had to shut myself down. Even while growing up at home, questions and opinions were always welcome,” she said, while recognising that this freedom is not universal. “Not everyone has that, and kudos to those who live in a world that may not always support them.”The actress also spoke about subtle gender privileges that often go unnoticed. “I think one of the biggest privileges is that you have a brother, and I have a brother, and we didn’t grow up in a household where they got the better chicken. That’s probably where our privilege begins,” she remarked, underlining how equality starts at home.Sara revealed that being raised by her mother, Amrita Singh, after her parents separated in 2004, deeply influenced her understanding of gender roles. “You have to derive your own strength in a world where you’re aware that inequality exists,” she said, adding, “I grew up with a single mother, so the way I look at women is completely different.”Challenging traditional notions of men as providers and women as nurturers, Sara said her childhood reality was very different. “My mom was doing everything. That bifurcation doesn’t exist in my memory at all,” she shared, before adding with a laugh, “My mom doesn’t do any job that’s ‘ideally’ associated with women—she’s a bad cook.” Soha Ali Khan echoed similar experiences from their family, saying, “Our father was a professional athlete. When we were born, he used to stay home while our mother went to work.” Wrapping up the conversation, Sara spoke about embracing all facets of her personality. “I have multiple interests. I like travelling everywhere—from Ujjain to the Maldives,” she said, adding, “I celebrate all aspects of my life. I think modernity is really a way of approaching things. It’s evolution.”