‘Hrithik Roshan stuttered, Sussanne Khan was at ugliest worst’: Zarine Khan said they were bonded forever despite divorce
Zarine Khan, mother of Sussanne Khan and Zayed Khan, and former mother-in-law of actor Hrithik Roshan, passed away at 81. Zarine was the wife of actor-filmmaker Sanjay Khan, and had spent most of her life in the spotlight. Zarine was the loudest cheerleader of her son-in-law Hrithik, even though he and Sussanne parted ways after 14 years of marriage. For her, she would always be her “son.”
‘Hrithik stuttered and Sussanne was at her ugliest worst’
Hrithik and Sussanne fell in love at a young age, and it was back then that Hrithik pledged that he would marry her one day. In a 2012 interview with Filmfare, Zarine had shared, “When Sussanne was at her ugliest worst with her two front teeth protruding, a young Duggu (Hrithik Roshan) had told his friends, ‘She’s the girl I’ll marry’. He’s been with Sussanne from the days he had a stutter and never imagined being a star. She was the one who pushed him and guided him, they’ve grown together.”
Hrithik and Sussanne got married soon after the success of his debut film Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. Zarine shared that when the film was on the cusp of release, Sussanne vowed to stay away from sweets, for his good luck. “When Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, had not released, Sussanne pledged a vow of abstaining from sweets for Hrithik’s success. Hrithik honoured his commitment to her and married her soon after the release,” Zarine shared in the same chat. While she deeply believed that her daughter and son-in-law would ever be apart, the unthinkable happened. “A wild wind may come and go, but it will never blow their home away,” she said once, but two years later, the couple divorced amicably.
Story continues below this ad
ALSO READ | Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal welcome baby boy: ‘Our bundle of joy has arrived’; Kareena Kapoor welcomes her to ‘boy mamma club’
When Zarine Khan said Hrithik ‘could be a great spiritual leader’
Zarine always appreciated Hrithik’s calm composure and believed that he could have been a “great spiritual leader.” She once shared with Sathya Saran in 2012, “I think he is in the wrong profession. His heart is so gentle. He is so human and forgiving. He would have made a great spiritual leader. He never holds a grudge, never gets angry. Only extreme injustice against someone can make him really angry. Otherwise, he just lets things go, even if someone wrongs him, or does something that upsets him.”
Bonded for life with Hrithik Roshan, said Zarine
The couple parted ways in 2014 but they continued to co-parent their sons – Hridaan and Hrehaan. Over the years, after many of their public appearances where they were photographed together, it was obvious that the families were extremely amicable with each other. In 2015, when Zarine launched her cook book, Hrithik cheered for her via X (then Twitter), and addressed her as “mom.” She told IANS, “He is the father of my grandchildren and we are bonded for life.” She added, “When the divorce went through, she (Sussanne) didn’t make a hue and cry. We are a family and we always have been family and friends together.”
Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Khan were married for 14 years. (Photo: Express Archives)
The relationship between the families continued to be harmonious and in an interview with ETimes in 2024, Zarine said he “continues to be my son.” She further added, “He and Sussanne may not be together, but they love each other as best friends.”
Story continues below this ad
A decade after their divorce, Sussanne and Hrithik are yet to marry again. Hrithik has been dating actor Saba Azad for a few years now, and Sussanne has been dating actor Arslan Goni since 2022.
