Ismail Darbar’s views on Gauahar-Zaid sparks debate on women working

Everyone is talking about musician Ismail Darbar and his views on his daughter-in-law, Gauahar Khan, working after becoming a mother. His recent interview sparked an old yet still unsettling question — who really gets to decide what a woman does with her life and career?

In a conversation with journalist Vickey Lalwani, the veteran composer revealed that he is not happy with Khan’s working situation. Here is all that he said.

What did Ismail Darbar say?

In an interview with Vickey Lalwani, Ismail said, “Gauahar ke baare mein main itna hi jaanta hoon ki Zaid ke saath uska bohot achcha relation hein, aur Zaid ka jo pehla bachcha hua, Zehaan, uski parvarish usne jitne achche se kiya ki Zaid bolta hain ki… Ab samajh mein aata hein ki parvarish kya hota hain (I know that Gauahar and Zaid have a beautiful relationship and she took great care of Zehaan. Zaid tells me that he understands the value of great parenting).”

When asked whether he has ever seen Gauahar's film, Ismail said, “Mera ek nature hein, ke meri family ki jo parvarish hein na woh thodi purani soch ki hain. Main ye sochta hu ki Gauahar ab humari ghar ki izzat hein toh main ab ye toh nahi bol sakta na ki tum ab kaam chhor do… Woh mera right nahi he woh agar right he toh Zaid ka he. Toh woh mein cheez dekhta nahi hoon jisse mujhe takleef ho. Agar dekhunga toh mujhse bardasht nahi hoga toh main un logo se baat karunga… lekin main uss tarah ki family se hoon (I am from a family which has an old-school thinking in this matter. Gauahar holds a name for our family now but I can't say that you leave everything. That right Zaid has. So I avoid watching her films because I cannot stand them and if I watch I will confront. I belong from that kind of family).”

For many, these remarks sounded like a throwback to an era long thought gone — where a woman’s worth was tied to her silence, her sacrifice, and her willingness to step back.

Who is Ismail Darbar?

Ismail Darbar is no stranger to the spotlight. Known for his unforgettable music in ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ and ‘Devdas’, he once commanded Bollywood’s melodic landscape. His last known work was ‘Yeh Kaisa Tigdam’ in 2018.

Who is Gauahar Khan?

From winning ‘Bigg Boss 7’ to her versatile roles as a model, actress, and VJ, Gauahar is a well-known entity in the Hindi entertainment industry. In 2024, she starred as Lieutenant Colonel Simarjeet Kaur in 'Fauji 2', leaving everyone impressed with her performance.

Should men dictate what a woman should do?

As the debate simmers online and opinions pile up, one question remains — in 2025, do women still need permission to live the lives they’ve earned? Or is it finally time we retire this outdated melody of control?