Ismail Darbar Discusses His Marriages and Preeti's Conversion to Islam

Ismail Darbar Opens Up About His Marital Life

Renowned composer Ismail Darbar, famous for his work in films like 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' and 'Devdas', recently shared insights about his two marriages during a conversation with Vicky Lalwani. He refuted claims that he pressured his second wife, Preeti, to convert to Islam. Darbar acknowledged that he concealed his second marriage from his first wife, Farzana, who has been living separately from him. For those unfamiliar, Ismail's second wife, Preeti, has embraced Islam and is now known as Ayesha.

Addressing the allegations regarding Preeti's conversion, Darbar clarified that it was her own decision. He stated, "I did not force her; she chose to do it herself." He emphasized her significance in his life, describing her as a mother and sister figure who sacrificed her career for the family, which he noted was a challenging decision for someone receiving film offers.

When asked about Preeti's reluctance to work in films post-marriage, Darbar remarked, "I don’t believe in pressuring anyone to work. She has always taken the initiative. Even now, she helps me with my clothes and ties my shoelaces."

In response to questions about whether Farzana publicly opposed his marriage to Ayesha, he explained, "She never expected me to take such a step. I had been hinting at it for nearly ten years. She believed I wouldn’t go through with it, but when two people are incompatible, such things happen."

Regarding accusations of betrayal towards his first wife, he mentioned that their conflicts peaked while he was dating Preeti, whom he later married. "After a heated argument one day, I called Ayesha, and we went for a drive. An hour later, I stopped the car and proposed to her. She said yes. Honestly, I had developed feelings for her. At that time, I had no idea she was engaged to a wealthy man. She believed I was an excellent music director, and after our heartfelt conversations, she became very attached to me," he shared.

Ismail recounted that after Ayesha accepted his proposal, he informed his mother about his intention to remarry. When asked if he was still with Farzana at that time, he confirmed, "Yes, but our differences were at their peak. I had actually been living separately for two months. I didn’t tell her anything and went straight to marry Ayesha." For those who are unaware, he has two children, Awez and Zaid, from his first marriage.