At 58, Arbaaz Khan Becomes A Father After 22 Years, Welcomes Baby Girl with Sshura Khan: Expert Shares Challenges of Late Fatherhood

Bollywood star Arbaaz Khan is celebrating a beautiful new chapter in his personal life. At the age of 58, he became a father again after 22 years. His second wife, makeup artist Sshura Khan, recently gave birth to their baby girl. This new arrival marks a special moment for Arbaaz, who shares a 22-year-old son, Arhaan, from his previous marriage with Malaika Arora. 

Reports confirm both mother and child are healthy. However, it also sparks an important question: what does science say about becoming a father later in life?

Late Fatherhood at 58

Becoming a father at an older age is more common than many realise, but it brings both rewards and potential concerns. Dr Jayshree Pathak, Senior Consultant, Fertility, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Patparganj, New Delhi, observes, “Nowadays, many couples are planning pregnancy late, like women in their late 30s, men in their late 40s and even after 50s. Now, whenever we are planning late, late fatherhood also comes with its own challenges.”

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Health Risks for the Newborn

Dr Pathak explains that late fatherhood isn’t just about age, as there are genuine health concerns that come into play. “These challenges are in terms of health-related risks to the baby. Health-related risks which have been found are genetic disorders which can be passed to the baby.”

Genetic and Neurodevelopmental Concerns

She adds, “There are certain neurodevelopmental disorders which have been found in studies, like autism and schizophrenia, which have been found with late fatherhood.” This means older fathers may carry a higher risk of passing on these issues.

Pregnancy Complications Linked to Late Paternity

Late parenthood is also connected with specific pregnancy challenges. Dr Pathak highlights, “In terms of pregnancy complications like low birth weight babies, preterm births have also been found.”

Lifestyle Diseases and Sexual Health

“Also, a lot of diabetes and thyroid issues occur in men because of which there can be other issues like sexual issues like erectile dysfunction and all this which can come with the late men's age.”

Parenting Duties: Physical and Emotional Challenges

As Dr Pathak puts it, “There can be parenting challenges which come as the baby will grow, the toddler will then have their own physical demands, and to keep up with those physical demands can bring a lot of stress and anxiety to the father as well as to the family.” The energy needed to handle a growing child can be considerable and sometimes stressful, especially for older parents.

While men can technically father children well into their later years, science has explored how advanced paternal age might influence pregnancy and child outcomes. A study published by Stanford University School of Medicine examined over 40 million births in the United States. Researchers found that babies born to fathers aged 45 and above had a slightly higher risk of complications such as preterm birth and low birth weight compared to those born to younger fathers. They attributed this to the natural ageing of sperm, which can lead to subtle genetic changes over time.

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Conclusion

Arbaaz Khan’s story isn’t just a Bollywood headline, and it’s a reminder that parenthood doesn’t follow a calendar. Yes, science highlights a few risks for older fathers, but it also shows how care, love, and preparation can outweigh them. At 58, becoming a father again after 22 years is not just a personal milestone, and it’s proof that family, joy, and second chances can arrive at any age.