Why Zayed Khan Performed His Mother’s Last Rites According to Hindu Traditions

The recent passing of Zareen Khan, the mother of Bollywood actors Zayed Khan and Sussanne Khan, has drawn significant attention. This is primarily due to videos that went viral showing her last rites being performed according to Hindu customs, a sight that left many social media users confused.

The question on many people’s minds was: Why were the rites performed in the Hindu tradition when the family carries the Muslim surname ‘Khan’?

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The Reason: Zareen Khan’s Birth Religion

According to Indian media reports, the explanation is straightforward. Zareen Khan was born into a Hindu family. Her birth name was Zareen Kutrak before her marriage to veteran Bollywood actor Sanjay Khan.

Despite marrying a Muslim man and adopting his surname, it is widely reported that Zareen Khan never formally converted to Islam. She remained a Hindu by faith throughout her life.

A Personal and Respectful Farewell

Therefore, her family, including her son Zayed Khan, performed her final rites according to the religion of her birth. The ceremonies were carried out with full Hindu traditions in Mumbai.

The funeral was attended by many prominent figures from the Indian film industry, including Hrithik Roshan, Jaya Bachchan, and Rani Mukerji, who came to pay their respects. The decision to honor her lifelong faith has been widely understood as a personal and respectful tribute to her identity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why did Zayed Khan perform Hindu rites for his mother?
He performed the rites because his mother, Zareen Khan, was born a Hindu and, by all accounts, never converted to Islam despite her marriage.

2. Was Zareen Khan Muslim?
No, she was not. She was born into a Hindu family as Zareen Kutrak and retained her Hindu faith after her marriage to Sanjay Khan.

3. What was Zareen Khan’s connection to Bollywood?
Before her marriage, she had a brief acting career in the 1960s, appearing in films like “Tere Ghar Ke Samne.”

4. Who attended the funeral?
The funeral saw many Bollywood celebrities, including Hrithik Roshan, Jaya Bachchan, and Bobby Deol, among others.