Zakir Hussain’s incredible talent and hard work left an unforgettable mark on the world of music before passing away on December 15, 20254 in San Francisco. But what’s equally inspiring is his love story. This brilliant musician was also a true romantic at heart. He fell deeply in love with woman of his dreams, and nothing – not even cultural differences – could stop him from making her his own. Zakir’s love story with Italian-American Kathak dancer Antonia Minnecola, is a beautiful reminder that true love knows no boundaries.
It was the late 1970s in California’s Bay Area, where Zakir Hussain first laid eyes on the woman who would change his life forever. They were both students, he learning the intricacies of the tabla, she mastering the elegant moves of kathak. Zakir was immediately smitten, but his future wife was not so easily won over. She was hesitant, unsure if she was ready for a relationship with the charismatic tabla maestro. But Zakir was undeterred. He would wait patiently outside her dance class every day, hoping to catch a glimpse of her and maybe, just maybe, win her heart. His persistence eventually paid off, and the two began a romance that would last a lifetime.
The First Meeting
Recalling the good old days, he shared his love story with Simi Garewal during an interview. “But it (Liking) turned into love very quickly,” recalled Zakir, and added, ” For some reason, it was very clear that Tony would be the person I would focus the rest of my life. A year after knowing each other, we moved into a house (together).”
Zakir and Antonia tied the knot eight years after their first meeting. But even the journey to marriage was not easy because of their cultural differences. Zakir was an Indian Muslim while Antonia came was a Italian-American school of thought, which made their parents a little hesitant about the relationship. “My father had passed way and my mother was wanting us to get married. But she thought that India was too many worlds away,” recalled Antonia.
Things were equally messed up at Zakir’s side. “In India, it’s a little difficult to convince your parents to accept your choice. And in my family, it was the first mixed marriage. More than my father, it was my mother who had a tough time with it. We did not tell her until I was already married but my father was there. He married us off in the Muslim ceremony. But in the civil ceremony, which was the first one, no one was there. We just went there and did it,” he shared with Simi.
However, everything ended well as Zakir’s mother accepted Tony as her ‘bahu’. after a few years.
Life after marriage
The duo, who got married in 1978, later became parents to two daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi. But life was not easy even after that. During the same interview, Zakir also revealed that while Antonia stayed in the US, taking care of their daughters, he would travel across the world for concerts. As a result, his wife had to sacrifice her career for the family.
Antonia struggled a lot during this time and her emotions would come out as anger and depression, revealed Zakir. “I would cry and feel alone and deserted. I remember a day when i was sitting at home with my two children, and they looked at me and asked why I was upset. I told them that i was missing papa and they replied, ‘You are making us feel degraded. Are we nothing to you,” she said. That thought struck hard and Antonia tried harder to adjusted and accommodate for her children.”
The couple stayed together for more than 50 years before Zakir left for his heavenly adobe, leaving behind his family.
Watch the full interview here:
