Two-and-a-half-year-old Farish is undoubtedly the brightest light in Bangladeshi actress Mahia Mahi’s life. Yet, for more than six months, that light has been out of reach. Currently residing in New York, Mahi has been separated from her young son, with no possibility of in-person meetings. Each day apart seems to bring a fresh wave of heartache. In her recent social media posts, she referred to Farish as her “soul” – her ruuh – highlighting the deep emotional bond between mother and child.
Since giving birth, Mahi deliberately scaled back her acting career, devoting her time entirely to nurturing her son. From teaching him to walk hand in hand, playing with him, to capturing his joyous moments on video, these experiences have become precious memories. Now, though, they serve both as a source of comfort and as a reminder of the distance between them.
In her posts from New York, she shared several photos with tearful emojis, captioning, “My soul is in India, and I am in America.” Farish is currently with his father in Bangladesh, and their only connection is via Messenger and WhatsApp video calls. Watching her son smile on a screen moves Mahi to tears, and she admits that often she pauses mid-conversation, overcome with emotion. “I long to hold him, to cuddle him tightly, but a video call can never replace that. I just want to run to him and wrap him in my arms,” she wrote.
Evenings are particularly difficult. Lying alone in a foreign bed, she silently cries for her child, gradually composing herself before sleep. Despite rumours surrounding her move to the United States, Mahi clarified it was for necessary work, not permanent relocation. Having navigated career ups and downs, personal heartbreaks, and other life challenges, Mahi’s experiences have strengthened her resilience while making her profoundly sensitive to family ties.
