82-Year-Old Zarine Still Drives Herself Across Mumbai, Says ‘I’ve Been Behind the Wheel Since the 1960s’
Times Life Bureau | Mar 11, 2026, 13:06 IST
82-Year-Old Zarine Still Drives Herself Across Mumbai
An 82-year-old woman from Mumbai has gone viral on social media after she shared her inspiring story with the world through a video posted by Humans of Bombay. In the video, Zarine is heard saying that she has been driving since the 1960s and still drives herself to get around the city. Zarine shared that she was born and raised in Bombay and came from a progressive Muslim family who gave great importance to education.
An 82-year-old woman from Mumbai has gone viral on social media after she shared her inspiring story with the world through a video posted by Humans of Bombay. In the video, Zarine is heard saying that she has been driving since the 1960s and still drives herself to get around the city. Zarine shared that she was born and raised in Bombay and came from a progressive Muslim family who gave great importance to education.
At a time when girls were not encouraged to venture out or study beyond what was required at that time, Zarine became the first girl from both sides of her family to study in college. It was during this time that she developed a passion for driving, which would later be one of the biggest contributors to her self-confidence.
The caption of the post read, “Driving at 82? I've actually been doing it since the 1960s. Hello, I'm Zarine. I was born and brought up in Bombay, in a progressive Muslim family that believed deeply in education. Still, in those days, girls didn't step out much. Yet I became the first girl on both sides of my family to go to college. Around that time, I also discovered something unexpected: driving.”
She further said, “My cousins and I would often roam around Bombay in our car. One day in Deolali, my cousin said, 'Do you want to drive? Go on, start the car! My hands were trembling as I held the steering wheel. With his instructions, I slowly started the ignition and drove one small round around the garden. That moment felt like freedom and I never stopped. When I got married at 18 and moved to Bandra into a big joint family, my husband became my biggest cheerleader. Whenever we travelled, he'd joke, 'Tum drive karo Zarine, I'll rest.' Once he even made me drive a minibus on the highway. I was nervous, but he simply said, 'You've got brakes and a steering wheel - why can't you do it?' And somehow, I did.
One trip I'll never forget was from Bengaluru. My husband wasn't feeling well and asked me to take the wheel. I ended up driving for nearly 17 hours straight.”
At the age of 20, Zarine had even begun to participate in circuit races. Although she did not win her first race, she felt proud of attempting something so unconventional and unusual for a woman of that time. She also managed her family’s department store in Bandra, raising her children, and drove her family members wherever they wanted to go.
When her husband died of cancer in 1996, Zarine decided to counsel cancer patients and devoted herself to this noble work of helping others. At 82 today, Zarine claims that her life is still filled with work, socializing, and traveling, and she still drives herself wherever she wants to go. She believes that life is all about being active, helping others, and never losing the courage to drive.
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At a time when girls were not encouraged to venture out or study beyond what was required at that time, Zarine became the first girl from both sides of her family to study in college. It was during this time that she developed a passion for driving, which would later be one of the biggest contributors to her self-confidence.
The caption of the post read, “Driving at 82? I've actually been doing it since the 1960s. Hello, I'm Zarine. I was born and brought up in Bombay, in a progressive Muslim family that believed deeply in education. Still, in those days, girls didn't step out much. Yet I became the first girl on both sides of my family to go to college. Around that time, I also discovered something unexpected: driving.”
She further said, “My cousins and I would often roam around Bombay in our car. One day in Deolali, my cousin said, 'Do you want to drive? Go on, start the car! My hands were trembling as I held the steering wheel. With his instructions, I slowly started the ignition and drove one small round around the garden. That moment felt like freedom and I never stopped. When I got married at 18 and moved to Bandra into a big joint family, my husband became my biggest cheerleader. Whenever we travelled, he'd joke, 'Tum drive karo Zarine, I'll rest.' Once he even made me drive a minibus on the highway. I was nervous, but he simply said, 'You've got brakes and a steering wheel - why can't you do it?' And somehow, I did.
One trip I'll never forget was from Bengaluru. My husband wasn't feeling well and asked me to take the wheel. I ended up driving for nearly 17 hours straight.”
At the age of 20, Zarine had even begun to participate in circuit races. Although she did not win her first race, she felt proud of attempting something so unconventional and unusual for a woman of that time. She also managed her family’s department store in Bandra, raising her children, and drove her family members wherever they wanted to go.
When her husband died of cancer in 1996, Zarine decided to counsel cancer patients and devoted herself to this noble work of helping others. At 82 today, Zarine claims that her life is still filled with work, socializing, and traveling, and she still drives herself wherever she wants to go. She believes that life is all about being active, helping others, and never losing the courage to drive.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Spiritual, Travel, Life Hacks, Trending, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!