Behroze Sabzwari salutes Syra, Sadaf | The Express Tribune

In a recent appearance on a morning show, celebrated actors Behroze Sabzwari and Javed Sheikh candidly addressed the divorce between Behroze’s son Shahroz Sabzwari and his former wife Syra Yousuf, offering a refreshing perspective on co-parenting and maintaining family ties after a split.

The interview began when Behroze was asked to put his two cents in about love marriages. He replied, “If your kids are wise and they care about their family and its reputation, let them decide for themselves.” The actor insisted, “This whole thing with arranged marriages, I beg your pardon. Lots of love marriages too only last for six months.”

Love or arranged marriage

“We never policed our kids. Shahroz told us that he wanted to marry fifteen days before and we said bismillah. The wedding took place,” Behroze revealed. The veteran star reflected on the end of Shahroz and Syra’s seven-year marriage, a union that had initially blossomed from their years as classmates. “For six years, the two studied together. For seven years, the two tried to make it work and I still call Syra my daughter, but they were both incompatible with each other. So no problem,” Behroze stated with a sense of understanding and acceptance.

Despite facing public scrutiny and trolling over the high-profile divorce, Behroze and his wife Safina remained resilient, choosing to focus on their family’s well-being. “People trolled a lot and passed lots of comments. I said, ‘Let them say as they please.’ Safina and I were both patient and grateful throughout the ordeal,” Behroze shared, emphasising the importance of maintaining composure amidst societal pressures.

While the end of a marriage is often perceived as a traumatic event, the couple found solace in Shahroz’s new chapter, with Behroze expressing his admiration for his second daughter-in-law, the model Sadaf Kanwal. “Now the second daughter-in-law we got, I have no words. She is amazing,” he said, highlighting the potential for growth and happiness even after a significant life change.

The Tanhaiyaan actor proudly divulged the close-knit nature of the family, despite the divorce. “Our first granddaughter, Nooreh, she’s our life. Our second granddaughter Zahra was born on Muharram 10 and she’s such a big blessing from God,” Behroze beamed.

Setting an example

Javed, appearing as a guest beside Behroze, stressed how rare it is to see former couples navigating the upbringing of their child with good spirit. “Often, when a girl leaves [after a divorce], she doesn’t want to see her in-laws anymore. There’s also the matter of their daughter and when she wants to meet her father. The mother permits that or not, there are many issues in such situations. But [Syra and Shehroze’s] case is remarkable, from both sides,” he lauded.

The Om Shanti Om actor commended Syra and Shahroz’s approach to co-parenting, offering a rare glimpse into the dynamics of maintaining familial bonds post-divorce. “Hats off to Syra and Sadaf… I came across a picture recently of Syra with her daughter on their Umrah. When they returned, Behroze went to pick them up from the airport even though there’s no formal relationship anymore… but their link is so strong,” he shared, applauding the maturity and compassion displayed by all parties involved.

Behroze elaborated on the close bond between Syra and her daughter Nooreh and Zahra, the latter from Shahroz’s second marriage. “The first thing she did when she came out at the airport was pick Zahra up in her arms… Zahra is very attached to Syra, the two spend hours with each other. She calls Syra ‘Mimi’ just like Nooreh. The credit goes to Sadaf here as well. She has never gotten into the ‘your daughter, my daughter’ squabble,” he said, highlighting the remarkable co-parenting dynamic and the unwavering love shared between a mother and her children, regardless of marital status.

The interview also delved into the sensitive topic of forced marriages, a prevalent issue often shrouded in silence. Javed underscored the importance of consent in Islamic teachings, challenging societal norms that prioritise familial expectations over individual choices. “Marriage should not be forced. Parents often decide that there’s this boy and they tell their daughter you’re marrying Abdul Qadir. She asks who is Abdul Qadir and the parents say, ‘Shut up!’ This is all very wrong,” he humourously offered his opinion, his words carrying weight in a society where arranged marriages are still the norm.

Javed further elaborated, “Even in Islam, it’s necessary to ask the girl’s will. A girl’s consent is mandatory, but our people have omitted this chapter from their understanding of religion… Ultimately, the girl and the guy have to live together. They understand much better.” 

For the unversed

In March, 2020, Syra and Shahroz announced that their marriage had come to an end due to ‘irreconcilable differences’. The estranged couple took to their respective Instagram accounts to share a brief but poignant note, expressing their hopes for the future, their commitment to their daughter, and their expectations from the media and public during this challenging time.

The identical notes read, “Today on account of irreconcilable differences, we have decided to end our marriage. Our only hope at what is a difficult time for each of us, is that both of us can continue to be the best possible parents for our daughter. Therefore, we request both the media and the public to respect our privacy at this difficult time.”

Syra and Shahroz, who tied the knot in 2012, share a daughter named Nooreh, and their primary concern, as stated in their notes, is to ensure her well-being throughout this transition. The announcement came after months of speculation surrounding the couple’s marital status, with rumours of their separation surfacing in December 2019. 

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