Nauheed Cyrusi opens up about two miscarriages, choosing animals over IVF
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Actress Nauheed Cyrusi has publicly shared for the first time that she experienced two miscarriages — one in 2018 and another during the COVID-19 pandemic — and that the grief ultimately led her and her husband to redirect their lives toward animal welfare. The disclosure came through a personal video post on Instagram, where Cyrusi spoke candidly about loss, purpose, and the conscious decision to not pursue IVF.
The First Loss and a Rescue That Followed
Cyrusi, who married in 2017, became pregnant the following year, only to lose the baby in the third month. She recalled the moment the doctor delivered the news: 'We went in for our last checkup, and unfortunately, there wasn't any heartbeat.' In the aftermath, she and her husband adopted Jojo, an almost-blind, almost-deaf Cocker Spaniel, from the SPCA — a decision she described as instinctive rather than deliberate.
A Second Miscarriage During COVID
The couple became pregnant again during the COVID-19 lockdown period, but that pregnancy also ended in a miscarriage. Cyrusi described how the compounded grief pushed them toward a deeper reckoning: 'By now, we have started to think about our purpose in life, and that it has to be something more than just getting babies into this world.'
Ruling Out IVF, Embracing Animal Welfare
Cyrusi was unequivocal about her stance on assisted reproduction. 'I did not want to do any form of IVF. Because I felt like if a baby is meant to be ours, then it will be ours, and I do not want to go down that road,' she said. Now in her 40s, she described herself as being in 'a different zone' — one centred on caring for animals in need, work she noted had been ongoing quietly, 'without anyone really knowing.'
Why the Disclosure Matters
Cyrusi, best known for her role in the film Anwar, joins a small but growing group of public figures in India who have spoken openly about pregnancy loss — a subject that remains largely taboo in mainstream discourse. Her account is notable both for its emotional candour and for the way it reframes the conversation: not as failure, but as a pivot toward a different kind of purpose. This comes amid increasing public awareness around reproductive health and the mental toll of recurrent pregnancy loss.
The actress concluded her post on a clarifying note: 'Hope this clears the air' — suggesting the disclosure was also a response to speculation about her personal life.