Bollywood’s power couple Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan proved that love is beyond boundaries.
The problems in Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Chibber’s journey had arisen as she hailed from a family of Hindu Brahmins and he was the pathani Muslim guy. Once Gauri had said ‘yes’ to Shah Rukh’s proposal, the next step was to convince her parents, who were against their inter-religion union. But eventually, they had given a nod to their relationship. Finally, on October 25, 1991, Shah Rukh and Gauri had tied the knot as per Hindu rituals.
When Gauri Khan had appeared on Koffee With Karan season 1 along with Sussanne Khan, she was asked about the difference in her and Shah Rukh Khan’s religion. Gauri said, "Shah Rukh, he doesn't have parents, unfortunately. If they were there, the elderly people in the house, they would have taken care. But, it's nothing like that in our house. It's me who takes charge be it Diwali or Holi or any festival. So that's why influence of my kids would be a lot with the Hindu part of the ... but the thing is that, Aryan is so into Shah Rukh that he would follow his religion, I feel. He would always say 'I am a Muslim'. When he tells this to my mother, she gets, 'what do you mean?'"
“It’s me who takes charge be it Diwali or Holi or any festival. So that’s why influence of my kids would be a lot with the Hindu part of the … but the thing is that, Aryan is so into Shah Rukh that he would follow his religion, I feel. He would always say ‘I am a Muslim’. When he tells this to my mother, she gets, ‘what do you mean?” she added.
Speaking about her thoughts on converting, Gauri said, “There is a balance, I respect Shah Rukh’s religion but that doesn’t mean that I would convert and become a Muslim. I don’t believe in that. I think everybody is an individual and follow their religion. But, obviously there should be no disrespect. Like Shah Rukh would not disrespect my religion as well.”
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan celebrate festivals of both their religions with equal enthusiasm and they have taught their kids, Aryan Khan, Suhana Khan and AbRam Khan that before any religion, they are Indians. Elaborating on the same, Shah Rukh had said, “Humne koi Hindu-Musalman ki baat hi nahi ki. Meri biwi Hindu hai, main Musalman hoon. Aur mere jo bacche hain, wo Hindustan hain. Jab wo school gae to school me wo bharna padta hai ki religion kya hai. To jab meri beti choti thi, usne aa ke pucha bhi mujhse ek baar, ‘papa hum kaun se religion ke hain?’ Maine usme ye likha ki hum Indian hi hain yaar, koi religion nahi hai. Aur hona bhi nahi chahiye.”
In one of Shah Rukh's old interviews with Farida Jalal, SRK shared an anecdote from his and Gauri’s wedding day. He said, “I remember, when their whole family, old-fashioned people, I respect them all and respect their beliefs but at that time, in that old-fashioned reception, all of them were sitting there when I came in at 1:15, whispering “Hmmm.. He’s a Muslim boy. Hmm.. Will he change the girl’s name? Will she (Gauri) become a Muslim?”
Shah Rukh added, “They were all talking in Punjabi. So, I looked at the time and said, “OK Gauri, put on your ‘burqa’ and let’s read the namaaz now. The whole family stared at us wondering if I had already changed her religion already. So I told them, “From now on she will wear a burqaa all the time, she won’t ever leave the house and her name will be changed to Ayesha and she will be like this.”
Shah Rukh has always been vocal about secularism and had shared that he would want his children to love and respect all religions. He had shared in an interview with a media portal, “I truly believe traditions and religions are all very personal. I think children, grown-ups should be left to learn it themselves.” Reminiscing his growing-up days, Shah Rukh had said, “My parents introduced me to everything. It was a refugee colony where I lived. So my parents used to be equally happy if I used to go to Ramleela or for Eid celebrations. That ways, you learn and respect and love each other because you learn each other’s religion on your own. So, I hope my children do the same. My memories and my thinking is this for them!”
