In an exclusive interview with Bharathi S. Pradhan for Lehren Retro, Zarina Wahab shares how she coped with her husband Aditya Pancholi's affair with Kangana Ranaut, revealing the emotional challenges and media pressure she faced.
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00:00How did you meet Nirmal?
00:10Nirmal means Aditya Pancholi
00:12We used to call him Nirmal
00:14When we used to talk, we used to call him Nirmal
00:18But his screen name is Aditya Pancholi
00:20How did you meet?
00:22VHS video films used to be made
00:24Heeba films
00:26They started
00:28They used to do it in a big way
00:30He came to me and asked
00:32if I wanted to make a video film
00:34I said no, I don't want to work
00:36I said no, it's a feature film
00:38It's just 2-2.5 hours
00:40Sorry, I said I don't want to do it
00:42The story was very good
00:44It was all on me
00:46I said
00:48If I don't say, the stardust people will feel bad
00:50Thinking this, I said
00:52Let's do it, I don't like it
00:54He was there
00:57What a good looking boy
00:59He is younger to me
01:01Later
01:03You will not believe
01:05Within 15-20 days, we got married
01:07It was my fate
01:09I was destined to get married
01:11That's why I made this film
01:13You made a film
01:15To meet him
01:17It's all about destiny
01:19I remember
01:21When you got married
01:23You told me
01:25Marry a person who is so good looking
01:27and much younger than you
01:29He will always go out
01:31His relationships will be there
01:33I am ready for it
01:35You told me
01:37And it happened
01:39I have never asked Nirmal
01:41I have never asked him a question
01:43When he comes home
01:45How is he to me?
01:47That's more important
01:49Even if I knew, I never used to ask
01:51If I ask, he will get scared
01:54So why should I ask?
01:56But you used to say that
01:58That you be prepared for it
02:00I was mentally prepared
02:02So I said this is my decision
02:04Then I have to
02:06Whatever we hear about Nirmal
02:08outside
02:10We hear it wrong
02:12But there is one thing
02:14Whether it was Pooja Bedi or Kangana
02:16Both of them
02:18talked about abuse
02:20But you as the wife
02:22Have you ever talked about him abusing you?
02:24No, never
02:26Is he abusive as a husband?
02:28Never
02:30Everyone thinks he hits
02:32He is so sweet
02:34He is very sweet
02:36So you have never seen that domestic abuse
02:38part of him?
02:40His girlfriends were talking about it
02:42They will talk about it
02:44Because it was not happening
02:46Let's not talk about it
02:48Alright
02:50But I remember
02:52The first time I met Kangana
02:54You were there
02:56We were watching Gangster in Dimple
03:00And you were so nice to her
03:02I was nice to her
03:04She used to come to my house
03:06She was very nice
03:08I don't know what
03:10But I knew
03:12that
03:14I could see what she couldn't
03:16But I said time will tell
03:19I don't want to say anything
03:21But you have handled it beautifully
03:23And what is Nirmal like
03:25A. As a husband
03:27B. As a father
03:29I want to be his daughter
03:31Or son in my next birth
03:33He is such a good father
03:35And a good husband
03:37He never stopped me
03:39for anything
03:41He never said
03:43Even when I wanted to make a film
03:45I told him that I have to go to London
03:49Hello
03:51Book a ticket to London
03:53He is like that
03:55Why do I have to go?
03:57What do I have to do?
03:59He will not ask
04:01Even now when I want to go to Bangkok
04:03Go
04:05Because I went 6 months back
04:07So did you have a Nikkah
04:09when you got married to him?
04:11Yes
04:13So he converted himself
04:15He didn't convert
04:17Ok
04:19But otherwise you didn't change
04:21No, no
04:23There are so many temples in my house
04:25Even before you came, I used to pray on Friday
04:27So
04:29I am not a religious person
04:33So you didn't hesitate?
04:35No
04:37Both of you are from different religions
04:39He is a Hindu
04:41You are a Muslim
04:43And you are from a traditional Muslim family
04:46And he is much younger than you
04:48So
04:50You didn't hesitate?
04:52No
04:54I am saying that
04:56When I got married to him
04:58Everyone told me that he is so handsome and young
05:00They will leave him in 5-6 months
05:02While doing this
05:04It has been 36 years
05:0636 years
05:08So how do you manage?
05:10Two religions in one house
05:12There is no management
05:14Everything is given
05:16Everything is given
05:18So why should we point out
05:20what is good and what is bad
05:22I always see
05:24good points, not bad points
05:26Ok
05:28And how did you bring up your children?
05:30How did you name your children?
05:32We were watching a Pakistani movie
05:34We were watching a Pakistani movie
05:36The heroine's name was Sana
05:38If we have a daughter, we will name her Sana
05:40Nirmal told you?
05:42No, you told me
05:44So we named her Sana
05:46And he was doing one film
05:48His name was Suraj
05:50So when Suraj was born
05:52He came running from the shooting
05:54When he was born
05:56So we named him Suraj
05:58So there was no thought behind it?
06:00No
06:02That there should be an Islamic name or a Hindu name
06:04I think Sathi was shooting
06:06His name was Suraj
06:08So you never thought
06:11You never thought
06:13that there should be an Islamic name or a Hindu name
06:15No
06:17Even my mother-in-law
06:19and my father-in-law
06:21they were very nice
06:23There was never any discrimination
06:25And how have the children been growing up?
06:27What did you teach them?
06:29We did not teach them anything
06:33So no force?
06:35No force
06:37So what do they follow?
06:39They follow themselves
06:43But they have grown up knowing both religions
06:45Like they go to temples
06:47Churches
06:49I offer prayers
06:53Religion has always been there for us
06:55Even for Nirmal?
06:57No, never
06:59Tell me, what do you tell Sana
07:01Because she wanted to be an actress
07:03It didn't happen
07:05There was a not so good incident
07:08She got replaced
07:10And after that she never acted
07:12Actually that was not her cup of tea
07:14It was never her cup of tea
07:16No, no
07:18She never wanted to be an actress
07:20I told her to do it
07:22She said no
07:24She does not wear sleeveless
07:26She was given sleeveless and short clothes
07:28and a low neck
07:30She ran away
07:32They took some other
07:34That was the main thing
07:36They took her to Kangana
07:38I remember, that was the irony
07:42She was replaced by Kangana
07:44So she did not want to be a heroine?
07:46No
07:48It has been so many years
07:50We never mentioned her
07:52So she does not want to be an actress?
07:54No, no