‘Can’t Tolerate’: Ismail Darbar on daughter-in-law Gauhar Khan working post-wedding, recalls how his wife quit job to raise kids

Music composer Ismail Darbar, known for his work in movies like Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, has been making headlines after his candid interview with journalist Vickey Lalwani. During the conversation, Ismail opened up about a lot of topics, from his fallout with Sanjay Leela Bhansali to his second marriage. However, some of his remarks related to his daughter-in-law Gauahar Khan raised eyebrows. In the interview, Ismail confessed that he is not very comfortable with his daughter-in-law working.

Ismail Darbar On How His Wife Left Rs 5 Lakh Job

In the conversation with Lalwani, Darbar drew a comparison between how his wife gave up a high-paying job just to raise the family. When asked about actress Gauahar, Ismail said, “All I know is that she has a wonderful relationship with Zaid, and that she is a wonderful mother. There is no harm in being honest about this.”

He went on to add, “However, the greatest thing my wife Ayesha did was stop working for her child’s sake. She was making Rs 5 lakh a month through shows at the time and was also getting acting offers. But she never said that she wanted to sing or perform. Even when I was in need of money, she didn’t offer to earn for us.”

Ismail Darbar Not Comfortable with Daughter-In-Law Working

Revealing whether Ismail watched Gauahar’s work, he said, “Look, I come from a backward family. We used to turn away whenever a sensuous type of scene came in a movie. This happens in our house even today. Gauahar is a part of our family now, and we are responsible for her reputation. But I can’t tell her not to work; that right belongs only to Zaid. So, I don’t indulge in activities that might bother me.”

“I’m not one to mince my words. I know that I will not be able to tolerate what I see, and if I am not able to tolerate what I see, I will confront them,” Ismail explained.

Gauahar Khan and Zaid Darbar got married in 2020, when Zaid was just 20 years old. The couple welcomed their first son, Zehaan, in 2023, and earlier this year, they celebrated the arrival of their second son, Farwaan.