When Zarine Khan sent 'Hare Masale Ki Machli' to Sunil Dutt at Breach Candy Hospital, said, "It was his favourite, hospital wouldn't allow but..."

Zarine Khan, former actress, author, and the matriarch of one of Bollywood’s most well-known families, passed away earlier today. She was 81. Known for her elegance, quiet strength, and impeccable taste, Zarine was also celebrated for something far more intimate than fame or glamour: her food. Her kitchen was the heart of her home, and those who knew her closely often remembered her not just as a gracious host but as someone who believed feeding people was a form of love.

Her deep connection to cooking came from her childhood. Zarine grew up in a large, close-knit household where meals were a communal ritual. Those recipes and traditions stayed with her, shaping the food culture of the Khan household. Over the years, her signature dishes became part of the larger film fraternity’s shared memory. Anyone who stepped into their Juhu home knew there would be warmth, laughter, and a generous table.

So it is no surprise that her cookbook was filled with recipes that held stories rather than measurements. “Apart from Bibi Fatima's classic recipes of biryani, khichra, kheema, kebabs and chops, the book also includes a few Parsi favourites such as fish in white gravy or prawn patia and some of the family's much-loved Continental dishes including lasagna, which Khan insists is best made by son Zayed.”
But among all these dishes, one held a particularly tender place: Fish fried in green masala, better known as hare masale ki machli. It was a favourite of the late actor and politician Sunil Dutt. Zarine would often smile while recalling this memory.

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