Aamir Khan responds to 'love jihad' claims:Says, 'None of his 3 wives changed their religion'; daughter, sisters married to Hindus

After his third marriage, actor Aamir Khan has come under fire on social media, with some users calling him the "brand ambassador of Love Jihad." Responding to the criticism, the actor dismissed the allegations. In an interview with Rediff, Aamir said, "None of my wives converted their religion. All three of my marriages were civil marriages." He also clarified that his third wife, Gauri, is a Christian and not a Hindu. Highlighting the diversity within his own family, Aamir said his daughter Ira is married to a Hindu. He added that both his sisters, Nikhat Khan and Farhat Khan, are also married to Hindu men, while his cousin Mansoor is married to a Christian. Aamir had his third marriage on July 5 Aamir Khan married his partner, Gauri Spratt, on July 5 in an intimate ceremony at his Pali Hill residence in Mumbai's Bandra. The wedding was attended only by close family members and a handful of friends. The couple formalised their union through a court marriage under the Special Marriage Act by signing the official registration documents at Aamir's home. Pictures of Aamir's wedding Leaders called it 'Love Jihad'; protests held, Mufti questioned the marriage Aamir Khan's third marriage sparked political and religious reactions from several quarters. Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane questioned whether the actor was becoming the "brand ambassador of Love Jihad." Another Maharashtra minister, Sanjay Shirsat, said that while Aamir's marriage was his personal choice, such incidents could send the wrong message to society. Several groups, including the Bajrang Dal, staged protests against the actor and burned his effigies. The protesters alleged that Aamir deliberately marries women from other faiths. Meanwhile, a fatwa was reportedly issued in Uttar Pradesh over the marriage. Royal Chief Mufti Maulana Chaudhary Ifrahim Hussain of Aligarh said that, under his interpretation of Islamic law, a Muslim man should not marry a non-Muslim woman unless she accepts Islam. He claimed such a marriage is not valid under Sharia and described it as religiously impermissible. Who is Gauri Spratt? Aamir Khan made his relationship with Gauri Spratt public on his 60th birthday in 2025. Gauri is a salon entrepreneur and fashion professional. Like Aamir, she was previously married and has a seven-year-old child. The two have known each other for nearly 25 years. They started out as close friends before their relationship gradually turned romantic. Aamir's first marriage ended in 2002 Aamir married Reena Dutta in 1986 after a love relationship. The couple was together for around 16 years and has two children, Junaid Khan and Ira Khan. They divorced in 2002. Second marriage with Kiran Rao, then divorce After divorcing Reena Dutta, director Kiran Rao entered Aamir Khan's life. The two got married in 2005. They have a son, Azad, who was born through IVF. Aamir and Kiran announced their separation in July 2021, after 16 years of marriage. What does Indian law say about a third marriage? Getting married for a third time is not illegal under Indian law. What matters is whether the person's previous marriage had legally ended before entering into another marriage. If the first and second marriages ended through a legal divorce or the spouse passed away, a third marriage is legally valid. However, marrying again without legally dissolving an existing marriage amounts to bigamy, which is a punishable offence. Under Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), bigamy can attract a prison sentence of up to seven years, and the second marriage may be treated as invalid. Under Muslim Personal Law, a Muslim man is permitted to have up to four wives simultaneously. However, this exemption does not apply if the marriage is registered under the Special Marriage Act, where monogamy is mandatory regardless of religion. In Aamir Khan's case, he legally divorced his first wife, Reena Dutta, in 2002 and his second wife, Kiran Rao, in 2021. Since both marriages had been legally dissolved, his marriage to Gauri Spratt is legally valid.