New Delhi: Actress and former Bigg Boss winner Gauhar Khan, known for her bold and outspoken personality, recently shared a cryptic Instagram story about raising her sons – just days after her father-in-law, music director Ismail Darbar, faced criticism for making misogynistic comments about her continuing to work after marriage and motherhood.
The controversy began when Darbar, in an interview, expressed his uneasiness about Gauhar’s decision to remain active in her career after marriage and having children.
Gauhar’s secret post
Add Zee News as favorite source
In what many are calling a subtle but powerful response, Gauhar posted a quote on her Instagram Story that read:
“Raising a boy is a beautiful kind of chaos. He runs instead of walking, climbs instead of sitting, and yells instead of whispering — yet he stops to kiss your cheek, hold your hand, and smear peanut butter on your face and call you beautiful. Amidst all the noise and mess, his tenderness makes you feel like you’re his whole world.”
The post was widely interpreted as a beautiful but candid message about motherhood and perhaps a sober stance for working moms everywhere.
ALSO READ: Netizens criticize Ismail Darbar’s comments on working with Gauhar Khan’s son after marriage, internet says ‘Nagma has time to run’
What did Ismail Darbar say?
In a recent interview with journalist Vicky Lalwani, Ismail Darbar praised Gauhar for being a devoted wife and mother, but said that he does not support women working after marriage and motherhood.
He added, “All I know is that she has a great relationship with Zaid and she’s a great mother. There’s no harm in being honest about that.”
He also claimed that although he would not ask Gauahar to stop working, “this right belongs only to my son Zaid.”
He further said, “Look, I come from a backward family. Whenever there was an erotic scene in a film, we used to turn away from it. This happens in our house even today. Gauhar is now a part of our family and we are responsible for her reputation. But I can’t ask her not to work, only Zaid can do that.”
Online reactions and reactions
Social media users, particularly on Reddit, were quick to condemn Darbar’s statements as outdated and misogynistic.
One user wrote, “Then who will earn? Gauhar is the most famous and accomplished person in this family.”
Another commented, “Zaid? Her husband? Who gave her the right to ‘allow’ her to work? She is not a minor.”
A third criticized the “patriarchal mentality”, writing, “So according to them, a woman is just a baby factory who should stop earning after becoming a mother?”
Another user described Darbar’s views as “absurd”, adding, “Nobody knows your son because of Gauhar.”
Gauhar and Zaid’s relationship
Gauhar Khan and Ismail Darbar’s son Zaid Darbar got married in December 2020, after reportedly meeting at a grocery store during the COVID-19 lockdown. Zaid later messaged her on social media, calling her “the most beautiful woman he has ever seen”.
The couple welcomed their first child, Zehaan, in May 2023 and their second child in September 2025.