Actor Zeeshan Ayyub Opens Up About Interfaith Marriage: “I’m Muslim, My Wife Practices Hinduism”

Veteran actor Zeeshan Ayyub, known for his work in films, TV, and web series, recently shared insights about his interfaith marriage with Rasika Agashe, who follows Hinduism. The couple tied the knot in 2007, facing challenges due to their different religious backgrounds.

Speaking on The Sheeroz TV, Zeeshan revealed that the couple had to navigate family opposition and societal pressures before deciding to marry. He said, “We endured a lot of difficulties because of our different religions when we decided to get married.”

How Their Love Story Began
Zeeshan met Rasika at the National School of Drama (NSD). Rasika was a senior, having cleared the entrance exam earlier, while Zeeshan qualified on his second attempt. Initially, their bond started as friendship, which gradually grew deeper. Reflecting on their first date, Zeeshan admitted it did not go smoothly, as he arrived an hour late while Rasika had traveled from Mumbai during her holidays.

Eloping to Goa
As their friendship blossomed, they decided to marry, but feared family opposition due to their inter-religious relationship. Zeeshan said, “To avoid our families’ anger, we eloped to Goa. We spent four wonderful days there and then returned in September to formally register our marriage. Fortunately, both sets of parents eventually attended the wedding. There were minor complications initially due to our different religions, but we managed everything.”

Respecting Each Other’s Faiths
Zeeshan emphasized that their marriage is based on mutual respect and understanding. “We made it clear that we would marry under the Special Marriage Act to avoid religious interference. I am a Muslim and Rasika is a Hindu, and we respect each other’s choices. If I want to practice Islam, that’s my choice, and Rasika continues as a Hindu without any pressure to follow Muslim laws.”

Their story highlights how love, understanding, and respect for each other’s faiths can overcome societal and familial challenges in an interfaith marriage.