Amala Akkineni says daughter-in-law Zainab brought ‘new sensibility of Islam’ into Hindu home; father-in-law ANR followed ‘no religion’

Amala also spoke warmly about her second daughter-in-law, Zainab: “Zainab is a very warm human being. She is accomplished in her own field. There is so much love and joy in the house—it’s heartwarming. We are blessed to have lovely daughters.”

Amala added that Zainab brought “a new sensibility of Islam” into their home. “She helped us understand how to make it comfortable for her to live in a Hindu home. It’s wonderful,” she said. Reflecting on the diverse spiritual traditions within the Akkineni family, Amala explained that members of the household follow different faiths yet respect each other’s beliefs deeply.

Born in Hyderabad and now based in Mumbai, Zainab comes from an influential business family. An artist known for her abstract work, she had a brief acting stint when she appeared in MF Hussain’s film Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities. She also runs a fragrance blog called Once Upon The Skin.

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“My mother was born Catholic but eventually adopted Sufism. My father was Hindu. My father-in-law, Nageshwar Rao garu, had no religion—you cannot call him an atheist, but he would often say, ‘Work is my worship.’ He never performed puja. He believed strongly in doing your duty well and living up to your values. That was his spirituality. He was very value-oriented, not religious.”

Amala shared that her own spiritual path has been shaped by Buddhist teachings. “I have been practicing Vipassana and following Buddha’s teachings. Now, with Islam entering our home, it’s a beautiful mix. Each of us is genuine about our beliefs and respects the others’.”

On the subject of rituals at home, she added, “I don’t know many of the rituals involved in performing a puja, but I understand the symbolism behind certain practices. Because I learned Sanskrit, Vedic chanting is very easy for me. The Vedas felt more like teachings. I light a diya and chant mantras. I was fortunate not to be born into a ritualistic family—I had the freedom to follow my own path. I was able to embrace universal elements and find my own meaning.”

Amala Akkineni tied the knot with actor Nagarjuna in 1992. He was previously married to Lakshmi Daggubati with whom he has a son Naga Chaitanya.