Ismail Darbar Reveals Details of His Interfaith Household and Family Dynamics
Renowned Bollywood music composer Ismail Darbar has opened up about his unique family situation in a candid interview, discussing his two marriages and the interfaith aspects of his household. Darbar is married to both Farzana and Ayesha, with his second wife Ayesha having converted from Hinduism to Islam upon their marriage.
Composer Addresses Backlash Over Wife's Religious Conversion
In a recent YouTube conversation with Subhojit Ghosh, Darbar addressed criticism surrounding Ayesha's post-marriage religious conversion. The composer reflected on their twenty-year journey together, stating that it has been challenging but expressing admiration for his wife's resilience.
"Twenty years of my life have been very tough," Darbar revealed. "But I salute Ayesha for bearing it with me. In fact, Sanjay Leela Bhansali was so close to my family that he told me that I am saved just because of my wife, and if it was not for her, I would have been finished."
Darbar emphasized that he never pressured Ayesha to convert religions, firmly stating that the decision was entirely her own. The composer married Ayesha while still married to his first wife Farzana, with whom he has two sons named Awez and Zaif.
Son Embraces Dual Religious Identity
One of the most revealing aspects of Darbar's interview concerned his son with Ayesha, who bears both Hindu and Muslim names. The composer shared how filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali named their son Imaan, while his Hindu name is Maan.
"After one year of my marriage, my son was born, and Bhansali named him Imaan," Darbar explained. "And his Hindu name is Maan. When he goes to his maternal grandparents' home, he's called Maan there. He also stands in the pooja, puts a tilak on his forehead."
The music composer described how he has taught his son to respect multiple religious traditions. "I have taught him to respect the religion in which he was born, but also respect all the other religions," Darbar stated, countering those who have mocked his family over Ayesha's conversion.
Career Highlights and Musical Legacy
Ismail Darbar rose to prominence in the Indian film industry with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 1999 musical romance Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. His compositions for the film, including the hit songs Tadap Tadap and Dholi Taro, earned him a National Film Award for Best Music Direction.
His follow-up collaboration with Bhansali on Devdas in 2002 further cemented his reputation, with tracks like Dola Re Dola receiving critical acclaim and winning a Screen Award. These career achievements provide context to Darbar's personal revelations, showing how his professional success has coexisted with his unconventional family life.
The composer's willingness to discuss his interfaith household publicly represents a significant moment in Bollywood conversations about religion, marriage, and family dynamics in contemporary India.
