I lost my mind: Zeba Bakhtiar recalls custody battle with Adnan Sami over Azaan Sami Khan

Actor shared her emotional journey during her tumultuous marriage to singer and composer

Renowned Pakistani actor Zeba Bakhtiar, who has been globally lauded for her appearance in Henna alongside Rishi Kapoor, recently shared her emotional journey during her tumultuous marriage to singer and music composer Adnan Sami Khan. In a candid interview with Something Haute, Zeba revealed the challenges she faced during the custody battle for their son, Azaan Sami Khan.

After tying the knot with Adnan, Zeba decided to step away from her acting career to focus on her family. She stated, "When I got married to Adnan, I was wrapping up a few films. At that time, I wasn’t interested in continuing to act. I wanted to write, maybe produce. I wasn’t that involved in acting. Then I married Adnan and Azaan was born, I was totally invested in that. But when the marriage didn’t work out, I started doing production and other projects."

Thinking back about the consuming process of the custody battle, Zeba revealed the extent to which the ordeal impacted her mental health. "I lost my mind," said Zeba. "I was functioning because that coping mechanism comes from somewhere, but I was not all there."

Shedding further light on how those years affected her, Zeba stated, "I have got big patches which I don’t remember. It was very difficult. But I am thankful I got back with Azaan. It was 18 months of this custody battle. I wasn’t working during that time, but a few friends of mine told me to work for my own sanity. There was a friend who was doing a serial in England and I joined the same show. I went to London for a few months to shoot that.”

Zeba's journey in the entertainment industry began in Pakistan, where she gained fame for her role in the popular PTV show Anarkali (1988). In 1991, she ventured to India to make her Hindi film debut with Henna, directed by Randhir Kapoor. Despite starring in several Hindi films such as Mohabbat Ki Arzoo (1994), Stuntman (1994), Jai Vikraanta (1995), and Muqadama (1996), her Bollywood career didn't take off as expected, leading her to return to Pakistan.

In 1993, Zeba tied the knot with Adnan, a prominent singer and music composer. The couple welcomed their son Azaan that same year. However, their marriage faced challenges, eventually leading to their decision to part ways in 1997.

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