Zayed Khan Performs Zarine Khan’s 'Dah-Sanskar': The Reason Her Last Rites Were Held As Per Hindu Traditions

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Though she stayed away from the screen, Zarine Khan remained a familiar figure in Bollywood circles for decades as the wife of actor-filmmaker Sanjay Khan, mother of Zayed Khan and Sussanne Khan, and part of a family that has long been intertwined with the Hindi film industry.

Those who knew her remember a woman who was both poised and practical, someone who handled fame without fuss and family life with strength. Her passing, while deeply personal for those close to her, also moved many who had seen glimpses of her life through the people she loved and supported.

Photo Credit: Oneindia

Her Final Journey In Mumbai

The city that had been her home for decades became the backdrop for her final farewell. On Friday, 8 November, a day after her passing, Zarine Khan's last rites were performed at Juhu Crematorium.

Her son, Zayed Khan, led the rituals, joined by family members including Sanjay Khan and Sussanne Khan. Zayed was visibly emotional, holding back tears as he lit the pyre and completed the rites.

Several friends and colleagues from the industry, including Hrithik Roshan with Saba Azad, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Jackie Shroff, and Bobby Deol, were present to offer their condolences to the Khan family.

Why Hindu Rites Were Performed

What drew public attention was that Zarine's funeral was conducted according to Hindu customs. The rituals followed the traditional 'dah-sanskar', a cremation ceremony steeped in Hindu tradition.

The reason, as confirmed by multiple reports, was simple yet deeply meaningful. Zarine Khan was born Zarine Katrak, into a Hindu family, and even after her marriage to Sanjay Khan, she never converted to Islam. She continued to follow her birth religion while living harmoniously in a household that celebrated both faiths.

Her children, who have often spoken about their blended cultural upbringing, respected her belief and her final wish that her last rites be carried out in accordance with her own faith. Zayed Khan's decision to perform the Hindu rites was a son's way of honouring his mother's request.

A Family Rooted In Two Worlds

The Khan household has always reflected the meeting point of two traditions. Sanjay Khan, from a Muslim background, and Zarine Katrak, from a Hindu one, built a home where both faiths found space. Over the years, this inclusivity showed in how their children approached life and relationships.

For instance, Zayed Khan himself had a wedding that included both Hindu 'pheras' and a Muslim 'nikaah', symbolising the same sense of mutual respect his parents had lived by.

Zarine's final rites were about honouring her roots. Her life reflected the kind of India that many grew up believing in - one where love, respect, and family rise above the lines that divide.

What Her Passing Reminds Us

Zarine Khan's passing resonated not just because of who she was related to, but because of what she stood for. She represented a generation that lived with balance - embracing modern life without losing the values they were raised with.

Her story also brings into focus the silent contributions of women who shaped Bollywood families from behind the scenes. Zarine was known for her hospitality, her close friendships within the industry, and her strong bond with her children and grandchildren. She wasn't one for the spotlight, yet her influence was deeply felt.

The decision to hold her funeral as per Hindu traditions brought her life full circle, beginning and ending in the faith she was born into, surrounded by the family she built with love and grace.

In the End

Zarine Khan's last rites weren't a surprise to those who knew her well, they were a reflection of her identity and her quiet conviction. She chose her path, lived it with calm assurance, and left behind a family that respected her choices.

Her final journey, marked by the crackle of the pyre and the prayers of her loved ones, reminded many that what carries importance isn't the way someone lived according to labels, but how they lived according to truth.