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Family Defends Hindu Rites for Parsi-Muslim Actress
4 Jul
Summary
- Zarine Khan, cremated as Hindu, had Parsi roots and Muslim family.
- Daughter defended cremation due to mother's wish for ashes in water.
- Memorial included prayers from five priests, drawing over 2,000 people.
Zarine Khan, wife of actor Sanjay Khan, passed away at 81 on November 7, 2025, from an age-related illness. Her family's decision to cremate her according to Hindu customs, despite her Parsi and Muslim background, ignited controversy on social media.
Her daughter, Farah Khan Ali, clarified that Zarine Khan had specifically requested Hindu cremation rites. This was due to her claustrophobia regarding graves and her wish to have her ashes immersed in flowing water, a preference for cremation over burial.
Despite the online criticism from both Hindu and Muslim communities, the family proceeded with the rites. They later organized a prayer ceremony that featured readings from five priests representing Parsi, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Sikh faiths.
This interfaith memorial was attended by over 2,000 people, who lauded its inclusivity and reflection of Zarine Khan's humanitarian spirit. Farah Khan Ali noted that such religious contention over death was a recent phenomenon in India.
Sanjay Khan is reportedly coping with his loss by keeping busy, as he had taken his wife's constant presence for granted. Zarine Khan, who married Sanjay Khan in 1966, was also known for her interior design work.
