Told Not To Pray To Hindu Gods Post-Islam Conversion: Actress Chahatt Khanna

Hindi TV actor Chahatt Khanna has spoken about her challenging experiences after her marriage to Farhan Mirza, son of Bollywood writer Shahrukh Mirza, and how her life has evolved post-divorce.

In an interview with Telly Talk India, Chahatt revealed insights into her personal and spiritual journey, including her conversion to Islam after marriage and her eventual return to her Sanatana Dharma roots.

Reflecting on her marriage, Chahatt shared, "I am not religious at all, but I am very spiritual. I believe in all religions. I am not a fanatic. When I got married, I learned about Islam and gained a lot of knowledge. I also believe in Christ and I am a devotee of Kali and Krishna."

After her divorce from Farhan Mirza in 2018, which was filed on the grounds of sexual and mental harassment, Chahatt said it took her several years to reconnect with her Hindu faith. "It took me 4-5 years to believe in Islam too, and I still hold onto some of its values. But when I returned to the roots of Sanatana Dharma, I realized deeper truths," she explained.

On asking why she felt "thankful" about returning to her faith, Chahatt admitted feeling lost during her marriage. "As a child, when you're constantly told that what you're doing is wrong, you become vulnerable. It took time for me to find my way back to Sanatana Dharma, but now I'm happy and content," she said.

In the interview, Chahatt was asked whether she felt "brainwashed" during her marriage, to which she responded, "I don't know if I would call it that, but yes, in a way. I was told not to worship my own gods, and that didn't feel right. Thankfully, I found my way back."

Chahatt revealed that she was advised by many not to convert to Islam but chose to do so to honour the traditions of her marriage. "I wasn't forced to convert, but I did it for the nikaah. However, after that, I was told not to worship my gods. Being young and impressionable, I followed that path. But now, I am in a much better place, with more wisdom and clarity about what's right for me."

She started her career at the age of 16 with a chocolate ad in 2002, followed by her TV debut on Sachi Baat Sabhi Jag Jane. She has also appeared in films like Thank You and Prassthanam. Her first marriage, in 2006 to businessman Bharat Narsinghani, ended in 2007 amid accusations of physical and emotional abuse. In 2013, she married Farhan Mirza, with whom she has two daughters. However, their marriage ended in 2018 following allegations of harassment.