Zarine Khan stood by ‘possessive’ Sanjay Khan amid affair with Zeenat Aman; quit modelling when he gave her an ultimatum

Zarine Khan Passed Away at 81

Zarine Khan, wife of actor-filmmaker Sanjay Khan, passed away on Friday at the age of 81. She was married to Sanjay for nearly six decades and was mother to their four children: Simone, Farah, Sussanne, and Zayed.

Early Relationship and Marriage

Their love story began in Mumbai’s Juhu area when Sanjay first saw Zarine at age 18, while she was just 13. In his memoir The Best Mistakes of My Life, Sanjay recalled:

“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.”

He proposed to her immediately, but she replied she would consider saying yes if she felt the same way about him after a year. Sanjay admired her maturity for her age, and she quickly became his close confidante. They dated for six years before marrying.

Challenges in Their Marriage

After Sanjay rose to fame in the 1960s, their marriage faced turbulence, particularly due to rumors of his affair with actress Zeenat Aman. Despite these challenges, Zarine remained loyal and chose to stay with Sanjay through difficult times.

Sacrifice and Commitment

Zarine gave up her modeling career to marry Sanjay, showing her commitment to the marriage despite its ups and downs. The couple remained together until the end, symbolizing enduring partnership despite personal and public trials.

Legacy

Zarine Khan’s life reflects a story of love, sacrifice, and resilience, bearing the weight of challenges while maintaining her family and marriage.

Author's summary: Zarine Khan devoted her life to her marriage with Sanjay Khan, overcoming personal sacrifices and challenges, including his affair and her quitting modeling, staying by his side for nearly 60 years.

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The Indian Express The Indian Express — 2025-11-07