Ismail Darbar Defends Hindu Wife's Conversion To Islam, Says 'Son Stands In Puja, Puts Tilak'

Ismail Darbar, who wrote several famous songs for renowned filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, discussed his interfaith marriage to his second wife. Ayesha, who was earlier named Preeti converted to Islam after her marriage to veteran composer. He responded to criticism of her conversion and shared details about her life after marriage. Ismail Darbar also opened up about her support during the most trying time in his life.

Ismail Darbar said, "20 years of my life have been very tough. 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."

Ismail Darbar disclosed that his youngest son from his second wife adhered to both Muslim and Hindu customs in an interview with Subhojit Ghosh. Imaan goes to his grandparents' home, he performs puja and puts a tilak on his forehead, the composer said. 

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Ismail Darbar, who is frequently accused of forcing his second wife into becoming a Muslim, disclosed that their child practices both Islam and Hinduism. "After one year of my marriage, my son was born and Bhansali named him, Imaan. 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 tilak on his forehead. I have taught him to respect the religion in which he is born, but also respect all the other religions."

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Earlier in an interview with Vickey Lalwani, Ismail Darbar refuted the accusation of infidelity and claimed he never cheated on his first wife. He said that after they got into a fight one day, so he contacted Ayesha and took her for a drive. He stopped the car after an hour of the long drive and proposed to her. The composer disclosed that he was unaware that Ayesha was already engaged to a wealthy man at the time.

Ismail Darbar made his compositional debut in Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), for which he received a National Award. In his career, he has composed music for almost two dozen films, including Shakti The Power, Kisna, Kanchi, and Devdas (which was also directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali).