Actor, film-maker Sanjay Khan’s wife Zarine Khan passed away on November 7, 2025 due to cardiac arrest, at the age of 81. Her funeral took place on the same day and was attended by several of the family’s friends from the film industry. Sanjay and Zarine have four children – Sussanne Khan, Zayed Khan, Farah Ali Khan and Simone Khan. One also saw Sussanne’s ex-husband Hrithik Roshan at the funeral. Other celebs who arrived included Jackie Shroff, Esha Deol, Kajol among others. As Zarine’s last rites took place and several videos surfaced online, many wondered by she the funeral took place as per Hindu customs and not Muslim rituals. Farah Khan Ali later offered a poignant explanation, revealing her mother’s unique life journey. Why did Zarine have a funeral as per Hindu rituals?One saw a heartbroken Zayed Khan leading the final rites, under the guidance of a pandit while Zarine’s grand children carried her mortal remains. Here’s why Zarine had a Hindu funeral. Some reports suggest that Zayed Khan fulfilled her last wish to have a ‘dah-sanskaar’, her earlier name was Zarine Katrak. She did not convert to Islam after marrying Sanjay Khan. However, in an earlier interview with Simi Garewal, Zarine had said she was born as a Parsi. Zarine had said, “We were total opposites. He wore a white shirt, pants with Kolhapuri chappals and a book of Tolstoy in his hand, very serious and charismatic and I was the modern Zohrastrian girl skirts and rock and roll shoes.”As far as the Zoroastrian funeral customs are concerned, the traditional method of disposing of the dead is known as Dokhmenashini. In this ritual, the deceased is placed inside a Tower of Silence or Dakhma, a circular, open-air structure where the body is exposed to sunlight. Birds such as vultures, eagles, and crows then consume the remains, symbolising the natural return of the body to the elements.But in recent years, the community has adapted to alternate practices due to the sharp decline in the vulture population across India. As a result, many Zoroastrians now opt for cremation. Even the last rites of renowned industrialist Ratan Tata were carried out at a crematorium in Mumbai, marking this shift in tradition.Meanwhile, after several speculations and reports, Zarine’s daughter Farah Ali Khan has now penned a an emotional note about her mother. She expressed, “My mother Zarine Khan was a very special woman. Her philosophy of life was to ‘Forgive and Forget’. She was kind-hearted, loved by all her friends and family, and cared deeply for one and all. She was the bond that kept our family together. Born a Parsi, Married as a Muslim and cremated according to Hindu rites. She epitomised Humanity and is someone whose legacy we hope to live.”Farah also dropped a reel which featured Zarine singing ‘Aaj Jaane Ki Zidd Na Karo’. Sharing this, she wrote, “Aaj jaane ki zid na karo. Yuhi pahloon mein baithe raho …….To my mother, my soul mate, the woman who touched many lives with her love warmth and shine. You will be missed because no one can ever be like you. Your legacy will always continue to inspire many and I promise to walk in your footsteps and keep our family bonded together forever. Your friends will become my friends and i will love them and keep them close. Will miss you until we meet again ❤️❤️❤️ Rest in peace my darling Mamma 🙏 Zarine-Sanjay’s love storySanjay had spoken about Zarine during this chat with Simi. He had said, “When I met Zarine I knew I found the girl I wanted to marry. I felt comfortable. I enjoyed looking at her face. Those lovely eyes… She had juicy lips… she had the most scintillating smile and terrific figure. She was pink.”Before her marriage, Zarine Katrak had already made a name for herself as a popular model in the 1960s. She appeared in films like ‘Tere Ghar Ke Samne’ and ‘Ek Phool Do Mali’, impressing audiences with her grace and beauty. However, after marrying into the Khan family, she moved away from acting and focused on interior design and home decor. Zarine also expressed her creativity through writing, penning cookbooks and lifestyle articles over the years.
Zarine Khan, Mother Of Sussanne Khan Dies At 81 In Mumbai