Sanjay Khan’s Wife, Zarine Khan’s Death and Burial as Hindu Rites

It’s with a heavy heart that we share the news of Zarine Khan’s Death. She left us on 7 November 2025, at the age of 81, at her residence in Mumbai, after suffering a cardiac arrest and age-related health issues.
Her departure has cast a quiet hush over her family, friends, and the many lives she touched, yet amidst it all is a celebration of life well lived.

A Life, A Story

Zarine Khan (née Katrak) was born into a Parsi family, the Katraks, and carried with her a sense of poise, grace, and strength from early on. Before long, she found herself in the world of modelling and films. She appeared in movies like Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963) opposite Dev Anand and Ek Phool Do Mali. Her life was later focused on her family, interior design and lifestyle.

In 1966, she married Sanjay Khan, the veteran actor-filmmaker. They had four children: their daughter Sussanne Khan, their daughter Farah Ali Khan, daughter Simone Khan, and their son Zayed Khan. Zarine didn’t simply rest on her earlier acting laurels; she also carved a niche for herself as an interior designer, and her legacy carried on through Sussanne’s work in design.

Love Story & Family Bonds

Sanjay and Zarine’s story wasn’t just about two people in love; it was about choosing each other through seasons of change. They weathered life’s storms professionally, personally, and what remained constant was the bond inside their home. Together they steered their household with an open mind: interfaith respect, creative pursuits, and strong family values.

Their home became the anchor point for their children, each forging their own path, yet rooted in the love and legacy that Zarine helped create. Sussanne once wrote of her mother:

“My bestestttttt friend, my God, my life… Our beautiful mummy.. you are always going to be our guiding light… You taught us all to live it our own way… with the epitome of grace and love.”
Those words capture the warmth she infused into every corner of her family life.

Religion, Final Wishes & Why the Rituals

Zarine was born Parsi (Zoroastrian); she never converted to Islam after her marriage. Her inter-faith household shows that faith for her perhaps meant something broader than ritual labels.

So when she departed, her family honoured a Hindu cremation, a “dah sanskar”, following Hindu funeral rites which raised many questions.
Why this choice? Because it was her expressed wish. Her daughter Farah clarified:

“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.”

In short: the ritual was less about any doctrinal alignment and more about fulfilling her personal wishes and respecting the inclusive, open-heart life she led. The family stepped up, quietly and with respect, to make sure her final rites mirrored her own voice.

The Burial / Farewell

The farewell happened quickly, the same day she passed. Emotions ran high. At the crematorium in Juhu, her son Zayed stepped forward to perform the last rites and was seen fighting back tears. Bollywood friends gathered. Hrithik Roshan, her former daughter-in-law’s then-husband showed up in support of Sussanne. Others included Jackie Shroff, Bobby Deol, Jaya Bachchan and more, gathering to honour her and console the Khan family.

The industry presence felt deep not for the glamour, but for the personal bond many shared with her and her family.

Condolences & The Outpouring

The tributes flowed in. Sussanne’s emotional note (above) set the tone. In the comments and posts, peers and well-wishers offered love, prayers, solidarity. The industry paused, for a moment, to reflect on her life. The Khan family received visits from friends, colleagues, neighbours: all stepped in. It was more than a public ritual; it was a human connection.

Holding Onto the Legacy

Zarine lived a life that whispered rather than shouted. A transition from film to design, from model to mother, from public figure to family anchor. She crossed many worlds: acting, interior design, family life. And in doing so, she blended roles with an elegance that many admire.

She chose her rituals consciously. She held to her roots (Parsi), embraced married life within a Muslim–Hindu blended family space, and in her final wishes picked Hindu rites.

Final Words

So we say goodbye not with finality, but with gratitude. Thank you, Zarine, for the calm strength, the laughter, the love you gave. Thank you for showing us how to build family, how to live interfaith compassion, how to step in many roles but remain yourself.

To Sanjay, to Sussanne, Zayed, Farah, Simone you have our deepest condolences. May your mother’s legacy wrap around you like a gentle quilt in the nights ahead.