Mumtaz opens up on Fardeen Khan's divorce with daughter Natasha Madhwani: ‘They have separated, every marriage has its ups and downs'

Indian Express

02-07-2025

Veteran actor Mumtaz has come to terms with her daughter Natasha Madhwani's separation with actor Fardeen Khan, but she isn't favour of the couple getting a divorce. She still adores Fardeen, whom she has known since his birth thanks to his father and her contemporary, late Firoz Khan.
'They are saying they are separating, but they still aren't divorced. I love Fardeen a lot. He was born in front of me. They are still husband and wife,' said Mumtaz. She's starred alongside Fardeen's late father in films like Woh Koi Aur Hoga (1967), C.I.D. 909 (1967), Aag (1967), Mela (1971), Upaasna (1971), and Apradh (1972).
'Nothing serious has happened. Maybe they don't get along anymore. Every marriage has ups and downs,' added Mumtaz, in an interview to the Times of India, adding that both are 'too old' and don't listen to her anymore. She added that often people don't get along with each other, leading to arguments.
However, she firmly believes her daughter and son-in-law shouldn't end their marriage legally. She said that Natasha and Fardeen should not divorce, as they have kids. She called Fardeen a good father who shifts his shooting days according to their schedule. She said that her son-in-law respects her till date. Even if they divorce, they won't be separated due to their kids, Mumtaz said.
Last year, Fardeen opened up on how he and Natasha had difficulties in having children. So he took a break from films and they moved to London, where they sought help of a doctor. They became parents to daughter Diani and son Azarius via IVF. Fardeen also took a two-year sabbatical after the birth of their daughter to enjoy fatherhood. 'I wish I hadn't taken such a long break from work. The only brownie point is that I have two beautiful children with whom I could spend so much time,' he had told the Times of India.
Fardeen also struggled with alcohol addiction and worked hard to give up alcohol in 2020. 'I was at a stage where I just didn't feel myself. I became sober in 2020 and I stopped alcohol in one go,' he said on Cyrus Broacha's podcast. 'I needed to stop, it was interfering with my life. I took professional help to stop and it was the best decision I have made in my life. I started drinking very, very young so this was the first time the brain fog lifted,' he added.
Also Read — Fardeen Khan opens up about giving up alcohol, sought professional help to get sober: 'I started drinking at a young age, it was interfering with my life'
Parenthood isn't the first time he took a long break from films. He took a sabbatical after Firoz Khan died of lung cancer in 2009. Fardeen said that affected him 'deeply' and he 'needed time for closure.' Fardeen returned to films last year, and recently starred in Tarun Mansukhani's hit ensemble whodunit comedy Housefull 5.