Zarine Khan, wife of actor-filmmaker Sanjay Khan, passed away at the age of 81 on Friday. Their marriage lasted nearly 60 years, marked by many ups and downs.
Zarine and Sanjay were parents to four children: Simone, Farah, Sussanne, and Zayed. Their love story began like a fairy tale, with Sanjay first seeing Zarine when she was 13 and he was 18 in Juhu, Mumbai.
“We gazed into each other’s eyes and in that moment, I knew hers were the eyes of someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with,” Sanjay wrote in his memoir The Best Mistakes of My Life.
Sanjay proposed to her early in their acquaintance, but Zarine said she would only say yes if she shared his feelings after a year. He admired her maturity and they dated for six years before marrying.
Zarine had to give up her modelling career to marry Sanjay. After he rose to fame in the 1960s, their relationship faced turbulence due to rumours of his affair with actress Zeenat Aman.
Despite these challenges, Zarine remained by Sanjay’s side and they stayed together until the end.
“She was mature for her age and quickly became my confidante,” Sanjay shared about Zarine, emphasizing their deep bond despite early uncertainties.
Though their marriage was tested by difficulties, including Sanjay's possessiveness and affair rumours, Zarine's loyalty endured for decades.
Author's summary: Zarine Khan sacrificed her career and stood by Sanjay Khan through decades of challenges, embodying loyalty amid rumours and turbulence in their long-lasting marriage.