Ismail Darbar's Patriarchal Views on Working Women Spark Outrage on Social Media

In September 2025, music composer Ismail Darbar found himself at the center of a social media controversy due to his remarks about his daughter-in-law, actor Gauahar Khan. During a recent interview, Darbar praised Khan for being a devoted wife and mother but sparked widespread criticism by suggesting that women should not continue working after marriage and motherhood.

Darbar's comments quickly went viral, with netizens accusing him of harboring a "misogynistic" and "regressive" mindset. Many questioned why Gauahar's career and personal choices were being policed by her father-in-law or her husband, Zaid Darbar, a choreographer and influencer. Several users pointed out that Gauahar's achievements far surpassed those of her husband, arguing that it should be her decision whether to continue working or not.

The debate also drew attention to Ismail Darbar's other son, Awez, who had recently proposed to Nagma Mirajkar on the reality show 'Bigg Boss'. Fans jokingly warned Nagma to "run" before facing similar scrutiny from her potential in-laws.

Despite the backlash, Darbar stood by his views, citing his own family's "backward" mindset and his wife Ayesha's decision to leave her career after becoming a mother as an example of the "greatest sacrifice" for their family.