Iqbal Khan on childhood memories, traditions and favourite Eid gifts; says 'Nothing changes for me on Eid, even after becoming a public figure'

TV actor Mohammed Iqbal Khan, currently seen as Dr. Dev in the male-centric drama Hui Gumm Yaadein: Ek Doctor, Do Zindagiyaan, opened up about his Eid al-Adha celebrations, childhood memories, and the traditions he still holds close.

Speaking about his fondest Eid recollections, Khan said he doesn’t have one particular memory but vividly remembers distributing meat personally as a child in Srinagar. “We lived in a big colony with lots of homes, and my dad would say we should go personally. So we would go and do that. There was a personal touch to it - it was really cool. And of course, getting eidi on that day was really amazing,” he recalled.

For Khan, fame hasn’t altered the way he celebrates. “Nothing has changed. Since I’ve become a public figure, why should it change? There’s nothing,” he said. He reminisced about childhood trips from home to Nehru Park in Kashmir and Delhi for rides. “But since then, whatever other rituals we do, we just do that. That has been constant. Nothing has changed in that.”

One tradition he makes sure to keep alive is attending Eid prayers with his children watching. “I make sure I go for Eid prayer in the morning, and I make sure my children watch me going. When I come back, we have breakfast together. We always do that, no matter what. Ninety percent of the time I take the day off on Eid so we can spend time together,” he shared.

When asked about the best Eid gift he’s received, Khan went back to his childhood. “I think the best one I still remember was when I was a little kid. Dad had bought this video game system called a Samurai, where we would play Contra, Mario, Kung Fu, and all those games. It was great. I remember getting that on one of the Eids - it felt like the next level.”

Ask him about festive feast, Khan picked sheer khurma for Eid al-Fitr and biryani for Eid al-Adha. On attire, he said, “Kurta versus sherwani — none for me. Since I’m from Kashmir, we wear a Pathani. We call it the Khan dress there. But sometimes, to hang loose, I also wear the kind of thing people wear in Arab countries these days.”

Talking ahead discussing either the festival are about meetups or rest on Eid, he laughed, “Rest isn’t possible — too many things happen, so there’s definitely no time for that. As for meetings, yeah, sometimes.”

Khan, known for roles in Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai, Na Umra Ki Seema Ho, Tumhari Pakhi, and Nima Denzongpa, continues to balance his on-screen intensity with grounded family traditions off-screen.