Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan are one of the most loved couples of Bollywood. However, the couple’s interfaith relationship faced resistance in its early days, with Gauri’s family initially reluctant to accept the match. To ease their concerns, the superstar even introduced himself under a different name.According to Mushtaq Sheikh’s book ‘Shah Rukh Can’, the actor temporarily adopted the name “Jeetender Kumar Tulli” before marrying Gauri. The first name was inspired by veteran actor Jeetendra, whom Shah Rukh’s grandmother believed he resembled, while “Tulli” was borrowed from the full name of late actor Rajendra Kumar, Rajendra Kumar Tulli.The book also reveals that the couple made similar adjustments during their wedding ceremonies. While Shah Rukh used a Hindu name, Gauri took on the Muslim name “Ayesha” for their nikah. Recalling the decision, Shah Rukh said, “We have not told this to many people.”Gauri also reflected on that phase of their relationship during an appearance on ‘First Ladies’ with designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. Looking back, she admitted that the couple’s attempts to reassure her family now seem immature. “We were so young and then to take a decision to get married and to a person who is going to join films, and being from a different religion. We changed his name to Abhinav so they feel he is a Hindu boy but that was really silly and very childish.”Over the years, Shah Rukh and Gauri have frequently spoken about respecting each other’s faiths and ensuring that their children—Aryan, Suhana and AbRam—grow up appreciating both religions without being confined to one identity.Speaking to Outlook Turning Points in 2013, Shah Rukh explained how he answers questions about religion at home. “It will also keep my two children completely confused. Sometimes, they ask me what religion they belong to and, like a good Hindi movie hero, I roll my eyes up to the sky and declare philosophically, ‘You are an Indian first and your religion is humanity’, or sing them an old Hindi film ditty, ‘Tu Hindu banega na Musalmaan banega – insaan ki aulaad hai insaan banega’ set to Gangnam Style.”Sharing how festivals are celebrated in their home, Gauri said, “When it’s Diwali, I lead the pooja and the family follows and on Eid, Shah Rukh leads, and we follow. I think it’s all very beautiful and the kids accept. In fact, my children are more inclined towards whatever Shah Rukh would say. For them Diwali, Eid, all are fantastic.”
