When Sunil Dutt honoured Nargis Dutt’s last wish with a Muslim burial despite facing backlash

In a heartfelt recent interview, daughter Priya Dutt opened up about a lesser-known chapter surrounding her mother's final days.

One of Bollywood's most passionate, yet frequently overlooked, love stories were that of filmmaker Sunil Dutt and the renowned actress Nargis. Despite fame, family, and even Nargis' protracted fight with cancer, which finally claimed her life in 1981, their relationship remained unbroken. Sunil supported and loved her unconditionally during her illness.

After getting married in 1958, the couple had three kids: actress Sanjay Dutt and daughters Priya and Namrata Dutt.

In a heartfelt recent interview, daughter Priya Dutt opened up about a lesser-known chapter surrounding her mother's final days. As Nargis was born into a Muslim family and had married Sunil Dutt, a Hindu, there was a general assumption that her last rites would follow Hindu customs. However, Priya revealed that her mother Nargis had a specific wish — to be buried according to Muslim traditions.

Sunil Dutt, respecting his wife’s final desire, chose to honour it fully, even though the decision stirred criticism and drew many questions from others. Priya described the emotionally difficult time for the family, emphasizing how her father, despite societal pressure, prioritised love and respect for Nargis’ faith and final wish. His decision stands as a powerful testament to the deep bond and mutual respect they shared, marking a poignant moment of love that rose above religious conventions.

During her interview with Vickey Lalwani, Priya stated, "Her funeral was a very surreal kind of a scene. My father, of course, had priests from all over who came and prayed for her. He said, ‘Many people told me that she was married to a Hindu, so she should have a Hindu funeral’. But he said, ‘No, it was her desire to be buried, and we will do everything according to her wishes’.”

Before Nargis Dutt passed away, she had expressed her wish to be buried in her family’s kabristan, and her family made sure to honour that. Priya Dutt recalled that after the burial, they also travelled to Haridwar with their father to collect soil, fulfilling another ritual. She remembered that when they brought Nargis’s body home, the media was present in large numbers.

At one point, a journalist asked her how she was feeling, and she apparently said something emotional. Following that, Sunil Dutt took his children aside and gently told them that while it was completely okay to cry and grieve, they should do so with him in private; outside, they needed to remain composed.

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She also revealed how devasted Sunil, Sanjay and the entire family was while her mother Nargis was receiving treatment for cancer. Sunil had given up eating food and got a habit of smoking frequently.

Meanwhile, after her untimely demise, Sanjay was heartbroken and sad that his mother couldn't see his debut film Rocky, which premiered shortly after she passed away.

Nargis was known for her best work in epic films like Mother India, Awara, Deedar, Mela, Aag, and more to name a few.