Gauri Khan had once clarified she respected Shah Rukh Khan's religion but wouldn't convert: 'We even changed SRK's name to Abhinav but...'

Time of India

a day ago

has always maintained her individuality while being married to Bollywood superstar
for nearly 33 years. The couple's interfaith marriage, celebrating both Hindu and Islamic traditions, has often drawn attention—especially Gauri's decision not to convert to Islam.
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Challenges before marriage
The couple tied the knot in October 1991, but their journey to marriage faced challenges. Gauri's parents were initially hesitant because it was an interfaith wedding. To ease their concerns, they even tried changing Shah Rukh's name to Abhinav so he would be seen as a Hindu, though Gauri later described this effort as unnecessary and childish.
At the time of their wedding, many in Gauri's family were concerned that Shah Rukh might pressure her to convert to Islam.
Shah Rukh later recalled that, to lighten the mood, he jokingly pretended that Gauri would adopt a Muslim identity, teasing the family about her wearing a burkha and taking on a new name, which left them momentarily shocked.
Maintaining faith and mutual respect
In the first season of
, Gauri discussed her choice not to convert, emphasizing that she respects Shah Rukh's religion while maintaining her own faith. She highlighted the importance of mutual respect in their interfaith marriage.
She also noted that her mother sometimes struggles with this, especially when Aryan identifies as a Muslim.
On Ladies First, Gauri explained that she leads the Diwali pooja while Shah Rukh leads the Eid celebrations, creating a balanced approach to their interfaith traditions. She noted that their children embrace both festivals, often following Shah Rukh's lead, and enjoy celebrating both Diwali and Eid.
Teaching children about identity
In a 2013 interview with Outlook Turning Points, Shah Rukh shared that observing both religions at home sometimes left their children confused about their faith.
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He said he would respond playfully, emphasizing that they are Indian first and that their core identity is humanity, even referencing a Hindi film song with a humorous twist.
Beyond being Shah Rukh Khan's wife, Gauri has built a successful career as a film producer, fashion designer, and celebrity interior designer. She was named one of Fortune Magazine's '50 Most Powerful Women' in 2018 and appeared on the cover of Vogue India in 2008, which called her the 'First Lady of Bollywood.' Since marrying Shah Rukh in 1991, she has maintained her individuality while raising their three children—Aryan, Suhana, and Abram.