Saif Ali Khan’s Marriage to Amrita Singh: The Story Behind ‘Azeeza’ and Concerns Over Their Children’s Religion

Actor Saif Ali Khan and actress Amrita Singh tied the knot in 1991 and divorced in 2004, during which they had two children. The actor had concerns about their children’s religious upbringing but trusted that Amrita would not influence them in any particular direction. Today, Amrita Singh is single, while Saif is remarried.

A Marriage Amid Concerns and Family Hesitation

Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh met on a film set and instantly connected. Despite their 12-year age difference and differing religious backgrounds, they began dating. Saif revealed in an interview that his mother, actress Sharmila Tagore, was initially unhappy with the relationship and advised him not to marry Amrita. “My mother knew about our relationship but did not want us to marry. She said I could be happy in the relationship but should not tie the knot,” he said. Nevertheless, the couple secretly went ahead and got married.

The Wedding and Name Change

The wedding was an intimate affair held at a friend’s apartment, witnessed by designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. Both a Muslim cleric and a Sikh priest officiated the ceremony. During the wedding, Amrita Singh adopted the name ‘Azeeza’. Abu Jani and Sandeep recalled, “Saif was ready to marry, but Amrita was hesitant and kept giving ambiguous answers. Eventually, the wedding took place at a friend’s apartment, and Amrita was dressed in her mother’s jewelry. The cleric asked for a name starting with ‘A,’ and that’s how she became Azeeza.”

Religious Concerns for Their Children

Saif Ali Khan, born into the Muslim royal family of Patiala, was mindful of his children’s religious upbringing. In a past interview, he clarified, “I never forced Amrita to adopt Islam, nor did I expect her to follow it. Even after our children were born, my approach remained the same. Amrita regularly visited the Gurudwara, and I took care of the kids. When we separated, I became more concerned about their religious upbringing, though I fully trusted Amrita not to influence them. True to that, Sara has grown up respecting all religions and identifying as Indian.”

Divorce and Settlement

The couple divorced in 2004. Amrita Singh, in a 2005 interview, had leveled allegations against Sharmila Tagore and Soha Ali Khan, claiming mistreatment, and hinted at Saif’s alleged extramarital relationship. Saif, in contrast, said Amrita was verbally abusive toward his family. The divorce settlement included an alimony of ₹5 crore for Amrita and a monthly allowance of ₹1 lakh for Ibrahim Ali Khan until he turned 18.