Web Desk: Actor and Filmmaker Sanjay Khan’s Wife Zarine Khan and mother to Sussanne and Zayed Khan, passed away at her Mumbai residence on Thursday. She was 81 and had been suffering from age-related ailments.
Family members performed her last rites at Juhu crematorium on Friday, followed by a prayer meet on Monday at a local hotel. The Khan family has requested privacy as members of the film industry continue to visit and offer condolences.
Final farewell surrounded by family
Zarine was surrounded by her loved ones in her final moments. Her children interior designer Sussanne Khan, jeweler Farah Khan Ali, entrepreneur Simone Arora, and actor Zayed Khan performed the final rites. Actor Hrithik Roshan, Sussanne’s former husband, also attended to pay his respects.
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi was among the first from the fraternity to visit the Khan residence, reflecting the deep ties Zarine shared across generations in the film industry.
From Bollywood to design and beyond
Before she married Sanjay Khan in 1966, Zarine born Zarin Katrak appeared briefly in Hindi cinema, featuring in films such as Tere Ghar Ke Saamne and Ek Phool Do Mali. After stepping away from acting, she built a respected career as an interior designer, influencing Mumbai’s design culture and inspiring her daughter Sussanne to follow the same path.
Zarine also expressed her love for cooking through her book Family Secrets: The Khan Family Cookbook, which showcased cherished recipes and stories from the Khan household.
A life of resilience and grace
Over nearly six decades of marriage, Zarine and Sanjay Khan shared a partnership defined by love and endurance. Their daughter Farah marked their 59th wedding anniversary, celebrated in April this year, with a heartfelt tribute describing their marriage as “a story woven with love, laughter, trials and triumphs.”
People particularly noted her strength during the 1990 fire on the set of Sanjay Khan’s television series The Sword of Tipu Sultan, when she supported her husband throughout his long recovery.
Fond tributes from family
In July, Zarine celebrated her 81st birthday surrounded by family. Sussanne Khan marked the occasion with a heartfelt Instagram post, writing: “Everything I do and all that I create in life is because of the way you shaped my heart, my mind, and my grit… I am so honoured and grateful to be your little girl.”
Legacy and remembrance
Zarine Khan leaves behind her husband, four children and nine grandchildren. Her legacy as a devoted wife, mother, designer, and author endures not only through her family’s creative pursuits but also through the warmth and resilience that defined her life.
Members of the Bollywood fraternity have described her passing as the loss of “a gracious, elegant soul” who balanced stardom and family with quiet dignity.
