Farah Khan Ali has spoken about the criticism her family faced after her mother, Zarine Khan, was cremated according to Hindu traditions. The jewellery designer said the decision was based entirely on her mother’s final wishes and not on religious beliefs.
Zarine Khan, wife of veteran actor Sanjay Khan, passed away at her Mumbai home on November 7 last year due to age-related health issues. She was 81.
Zarine Khan Personally Chose Cremation
Speaking in an interview with Vickey Lalwani, Farah Khan Ali revealed that her mother had clearly expressed how she wanted her last rites to be performed.
Although Zarine Khan was born into a Parsi family and later married into a Muslim household, she requested to be cremated according to Hindu customs.
Farah explained that her mother wanted her ashes to be immersed in the flowing waters of Kashmir. She also shared that Zarine was claustrophobic and did not want to be buried in a grave.
According to Farah, the family simply honoured the wishes Zarine had expressed during her lifetime.
Family Faced Criticism on Social Media
After Zarine Khan’s funeral, the family received criticism from people belonging to different communities.
Farah said some social media users questioned why a woman who had married into a Muslim family was cremated instead of being buried. At the same time, others also objected because of her religious background.
She described the reactions as painful and disappointing.
Farah said she grew up in a family that respected every religion and celebrated all festivals equally. Therefore, she found it upsetting that people argued over religion even after someone’s death.
“I Learned to Ignore the Trolls”
Despite the online backlash, Farah said she chose not to respond to the criticism.
She explained that she has become skilled at ignoring negative comments because she believes life is too short to focus on people spreading hate.
Instead, she prefers spending her time with loved ones and those who truly matter.
Prayer Meeting Reflected Zarine Khan’s Values
Farah also shared details about Zarine Khan’s memorial service, saying it beautifully reflected her mother’s belief in unity.
The family invited priests from five different religions — Parsi, Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh — to offer prayers together.
After the prayers, family members and children spoke about Zarine and remembered her life.
According to Farah, more than 2,000 people attended the ceremony.
Many guests told the family they had never witnessed a memorial service where religious leaders from so many faiths prayed together under one roof.
How Sanjay Khan Is Coping With the Loss
Farah also spoke about her father, veteran actor Sanjay Khan, and how he has been dealing with the loss of his wife.
She said her father deeply misses Zarine, as they had spent decades together.
However, she added that he keeps himself busy because staying occupied helps him manage his grief.
Farah believes her father is still adjusting to life without Zarine, who had always been by his side.
Zarine Khan’s Legacy Lives On
Farah described her mother as someone who united the entire family.
She said Zarine’s life represented harmony, as she was born into a Parsi family, married into a Muslim family and chose Hindu cremation rites for her final farewell.
According to Farah, her mother’s greatest legacy is her belief in humanity above religious differences, and the family hopes to continue living by those values.
About Zarine Khan
Zarine Khan passed away after battling age-related health issues.
She married Sanjay Khan in 1966 after the couple met during the 1960s.
Although she appeared in the 1963 Hindi film Tere Ghar Ke Samne alongside Dev Anand, she later built a successful career as an interior designer and entrepreneur.
She is survived by her husband Sanjay Khan, daughters Farah Khan Ali, Sussanne Khan and Simone Arora, and son Zayed Khan.
The couple celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary earlier this year.
Who Is Farah Khan Ali?
Farah Khan Ali is a well-known jewellery designer, gemologist and entrepreneur.
She graduated in History and Economics from Sophia College in Mumbai before earning a Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the United States.
Over the years, she has established herself as one of India’s leading jewellery designers.