If you search for “Who is Omar Abdullah’s wife Payal Nath?” or “Payal Nath Abdullah biography”, you are usually met with short snippets and headlines about their separation. But behind the headlines is a detailed story of a Delhi-based businesswoman who became part of one of Jammu & Kashmir’s most influential political families.
Early Life and Family Background
Full Name: Payal Nath
Also Known As: Payal Abdullah
Date of Birth: 6 June 1973
Birthplace: Delhi, India
Hometown: Delhi
Religion: Hinduism
Payal Nath was born into a well-placed, defence family in Delhi. Her father, Ram Nath, is a retired Army officer (some reports mention him as a Major General), which means she grew up in a disciplined and service-oriented environment.
Some sources also note that her family roots can be traced back to Lahore (now in Pakistan), like many Punjabi families who moved to India during Partition.
She spent most of her formative years in Delhi, where she later began her professional career in the hospitality sector.
Meeting Omar Abdullah – From Hotel Colleagues to Political Power Couple
Before becoming known as a political spouse, Payal worked in the prestigious The Oberoi hotel in New Delhi. Around the same time, a young Omar Abdullah – then a marketing executive for the same hotel chain – was also working there.
Their friendship gradually turned into a relationship. Despite coming from different religious and cultural backgrounds, they chose to marry, making it a high-profile inter-faith alliance:
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Payal Nath: Hindu, Delhi-based business and hospitality professional
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Omar Abdullah: Kashmiri Muslim, heir to the powerful Abdullah political family, later Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir
They got married on 1 September 1994, after a courtship that reportedly began in the hotel corridors and extended into a deep personal bond.
For many years, they were seen as one of the most talked-about couples from the political and social circuit – blending Delhi’s social life with Kashmir’s political elite.
Marriage into the Abdullah Family
By marrying Omar, Payal entered the famous Abdullah dynasty of Jammu & Kashmir politics:
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Husband: Omar Abdullah – former Chief Minister of J&K, senior leader of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) (Wikipedia)
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Father-in-law: Dr. Farooq Abdullah – three-time Chief Minister of J&K and a national-level politician
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Grandfather-in-law: Sheikh Abdullah – iconic leader and founder of the National Conference
Payal and Omar have two sons – Zahir (Zamir) and Zahir/Zamir Abdullah (spelling varies across reports). They were often seen in family photographs at public events and social functions.
Through this marriage, Payal became a familiar face in political and social circles, even though she herself did not pursue a political career.
Professional Career – Businesswoman, Travel & Mineral Water Ventures
Unlike many political spouses who remain largely within the domestic sphere or turn to direct politics, Payal Nath built her own independent business identity.
According to multiple profiles:
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She is a businesswoman by profession.
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She runs a travel business based out of Delhi, serving both leisure and corporate clients.
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She is also associated with a mineral water brand called “Jairu Naturelle”. The bottling plant of this company is reportedly located near Kullu-Manali highway in Himachal Pradesh, about 3 km from Kullu.
This mineral water venture gave her exposure to manufacturing, branding, and distribution in the FMCG space, while her travel business connected her to premium clientele from Delhi and beyond.
Though she does not frequently appear in business media or conferenced panels, these enterprises show that Payal focused on building her own financial and professional independence, parallel to her husband’s political journey.
Personal Life – Separation and Legal Battle
Announcement of Separation
In September 2011, Omar Abdullah publicly confirmed that he and his wife Payal had separated after about 17 years of marriage. (The Times of India)
The announcement came amid intense media speculation. Omar issued a statement making two important points:
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He confirmed that he and Payal were no longer living together.
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He denied rumours about any planned second marriage and termed such stories as fabricated and hurtful.
Since then, Payal has lived separately from Omar, mainly in Delhi, while he continued his political career in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Divorce Case
In 2013, Omar Abdullah filed for divorce, reportedly under the Special Marriage Act, citing cruelty and desertion as grounds. The family court (Patiala House, Delhi) dismissed his petition in 2016, holding that he had failed to prove cruelty or desertion. (Indian Kanoon)
Omar challenged this decision before the Delhi High Court, but on 12 December 2023, the High Court dismissed his appeal and upheld the family court’s judgment. The court noted: (Indian Kanoon)
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The allegations of cruelty were vague.
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Omar had not substantiated claims of physical or mental cruelty.
Thus, legally, their marriage remained intact, though they continued to live separately.
As of August 2024, the matter reached the Supreme Court of India, which directed both Omar Abdullah and Payal Nath to explore mediation for a possible settlement of their marital dispute. (Zee News)
Maintenance and Financial Dispute
One of the most widely reported aspects of Payal’s personal life is the maintenance case:
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Payal initially received around ₹75,000 per month as maintenance under Section 125 CrPC.
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She approached the Delhi High Court seeking enhancement.
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In 2023, the Delhi High Court directed Omar Abdullah to pay ₹1.5 lakh per month as maintenance to Payal and ₹60,000 per month for their son’s education. (OpIndia)
There were also older reports stating that she had once sought ₹15 lakh per month in maintenance, which attracted considerable media and social media attention at the time.
Media Image & Public Perception
Although she is often described as media-shy and rarely gives interviews, Payal’s name has appeared regularly in news whenever there are:
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Updates in the divorce or maintenance case
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Political developments involving Omar Abdullah
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Human-interest or feature stories on political families and inter-faith marriages
In Hindi and English media stories, Payal is frequently portrayed as:
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A strong, independent woman who chose to live separately when the marriage broke down
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A businesswoman and mother, managing her own career and looking after her sons
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A relatively private person compared to many other political spouses
Controversies Associated with Payal Nath
Payal herself has not been accused of corruption, crime, or political scandal in her own right. However, her name surfaces prominently in connection with marital and legal controversies:
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High-profile separation from Omar Abdullah
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Their separation, coming from a leading political family, sparked widespread gossip and speculation. (The Times of India)
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Maintenance demand and public debate
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Reports of her demand for higher maintenance (up to ₹15 lakh per month in some news stories) triggered public debates about alimony, lifestyle, and the financial obligations of high-earning political figures. (OpIndia)
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Divorce case legal battle
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The prolonged legal fight, including rejection of Omar Abdullah’s divorce plea at both family court and High Court levels, kept her name constantly in the news cycle. (Indian Kanoon)
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All these controversies essentially revolve around personal and matrimonial issues, rather than allegations of wrongdoing by Payal in business or public life.
Personality, Interests and Lifestyle
From the available public information, Payal Nath comes across as:
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Reserved and dignified in public – she rarely speaks to the media and has not indulged in sensational interviews, despite intense curiosity about her personal life.
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Professionally driven – continuing her travel business and mineral water enterprise.
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Fond of travel and music, as noted in several biographical snippets.
Her style is often described as elegant yet understated – seen in simple salwar suits or sarees, minimal public appearances, and a preference for staying away from political spotlight.
Lesser-Known / Interesting Facts about Payal Nath Abdullah
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Hospitality Background: Payal met Omar while working at The Oberoi, New Delhi, showing that both had corporate careers before politics took over their lives.
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Inter-faith Marriage: She is a Hindu who married into a prominent Muslim political family, making their union a widely discussed inter-faith marriage in Indian political circles. (Wikipedia)
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Mineral Water Brand Owner: Payal owns or is closely associated with the “Jairu Naturelle” mineral water brand, with a plant near Kullu–Manali in Himachal Pradesh.
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Travel Entrepreneur: She runs a travel business from Delhi, independently of her husband’s political career.
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Army Family Roots: Her father, Ram Nath, is a retired Army officer; some reports even refer to him as Major General (Retd.) Ram Nath, indicating a high-ranking defence background.
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Linked to Lahore Ancestry: Certain profiles mention that her family traces its roots back to Lahore, giving her a cross-border Punjabi heritage.
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Part of an Influential Extended Family: Her sister-in-law Sara Abdullah Pilot is married to Sachin Pilot, a prominent Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
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Court Decisions Favoured Her: Both the family court and the Delhi High Court rejected Omar Abdullah’s plea for divorce, effectively upholding her stand in the legal dispute so far. (Indian Kanoon)
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SC-Directed Mediation: In 2024, the Supreme Court asked Omar and Payal to explore mediation – again putting the spotlight on her and underlining how long the legal process has continued. (Zee News)
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Media-Shy but Often in Headlines: Despite a low personal media profile, she remains a recurring name in political and legal news related to Omar Abdullah.
FAQs about Payal Nath Abdullah
1. Who is Payal Nath Abdullah?
Payal Nath Abdullah (Payal Nath) is an Indian businesswoman and the estranged wife of Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir. She runs a travel business in Delhi and is associated with a mineral water brand called Jairu Naturelle.
2. What is the age of Payal Nath?
She was born on 6 June 1973, which makes her around 52 years old in 2025 (age may vary depending on the current year).
3. Where is Payal Nath from?
She is from Delhi, India, where she was born and raised and where she currently runs her business.
4. Is Payal Nath divorced from Omar Abdullah?
As per available court records and news reports, Omar Abdullah’s divorce petitions were dismissed by both the family court and the Delhi High Court. The Supreme Court has directed both to attempt mediation. Legally, they remain married but are living separately since around 2009–2011. (Indian Kanoon)
5. How many children do Omar Abdullah and Payal Nath have?
They have two sons, often named as Zamir and Zahir (spellings vary as Zahir/Zamir) in different reports.
6. Why is Payal Nath in the news?
She is mainly in the news because of:
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Her separation and ongoing marital dispute with Omar Abdullah
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Court cases involving divorce and maintenance
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Periodic updates from High Court and Supreme Court proceedings
Apart from that, she is occasionally mentioned in human-interest stories about political families and inter-faith marriages. (Indian Kanoon)
7. What business does Payal Nath run?
She is reported to:
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Run a travel business from Delhi
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Be associated with a mineral water company “Jairu Naturelle” operating near Kullu, Himachal Pradesh.
8. Is Payal Nath active in politics?
No. While she is closely linked to a political dynasty through marriage, Payal herself is not an active politician. She is best described as a businesswoman and political spouse, not a political leader.

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