Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan recently spoke openly about religion and how he plans to raise his children. Speaking at an event in London, Saif said he openly discusses religion with his sons, Taimur and Jeh, and wants to pass on the same teachings he received from his own mother, Sharmila Tagore.
Saif explained that he is not a very religious person himself, but his mother always taught him that there is only one God, and he wants to give his children this same understanding. He shared that he studied in schools where students were taught to respect different religions, their traditions, and their festivals. He recalled, laughing, that his school day used to begin with prayers in a church. He once tried to skip it by saying he followed a different religion, but the school arranged a maulvi (Muslim religious teacher) for him instead, so he could not avoid the responsibility either way.
The actor said he wants his children to offer namaz, while also understanding and respecting the practices of other religions, and celebrating Christmas just as they celebrate Diwali. According to him, awareness of different religions and mutual respect are an important part of raising children well.
Saif has been married twice to actresses from different religious backgrounds: Amrita Singh, with whom he has children Sara and Ibrahim, and Kareena Kapoor, with whom he has Taimur and Jeh.
