Bushra Ansari Advice for Women Considering Marriage to a Divorced Man

In a candid and thoughtful recent YouTube vlog, veteran Pakistani actress, host, and singer Bushra Ansari offered crucial advice to young women and their parents about a seldom-discussed social issue: marrying a man who is previously divorced and has children.

Drawing from her own life experience and observations, Bushra stressed the importance of due diligence and transparency before entering such a marriage.

Bushra Ansari’s No-Nonsense Advice for Women

Key Advice from Bushra Ansari:

1. Investigate Why the First Marriage Ended:
   Bushra emphasized that it is a woman’s right to know the reasons behind the man’s previous divorce. “You must find out why the first marriage broke,” she said. While acknowledging that sometimes the woman may be at fault, she added, “but that is rare.”
2. Understand the Context of the Separation:
   She highlighted that a mother rarely chooses to leave her husband while her children are still dependent. “No woman wants to leave her husband under any circumstances when there are children involved,” Bushra noted, implying that the reasons for a divorce are often significant and rooted in serious issues.
3. The Role of Parents:
   Bushra placed strong emphasis on parental responsibility. She urged the parents of the bride-to-be to conduct serious investigations into the circumstances of the man’s first marriage. “It is better to know the reality beforehand than to regret it later,” she advised.
4. A Word of Caution:
   She warned that some men may not change their negative habits. Therefore, understanding his past is essential to gauge his character and the potential for a stable future relationship.

Personal Context from Bushra’s Life:

Bushra Ansari spoke from personal experience. Her first marriage to producer Iqbal Ansari in 1978 lasted until 2014. She described enduring a long marriage “like a prison sentence” for the sake of her daughters, only taking the step to leave once they were independent.

She has since remarried actor and director Iqbal Hussain in a private ceremony that was kept secret for some time. Her advice, therefore, comes from a place of having navigated the complexities of divorce and remarriage herself.

The Core Message:

Bushra Ansari’s guidance underscores the need for open conversation, careful inquiry, and informed decision-making in marriages where one partner has a prior family. Her advice challenges the stigma around discussing past marriages and advocates for pragmatism and protection of women’s well-being in marital choices.