Freddie Mercury, the flashy rockstar, was actually quite private beneath his confident persona. Even though he didn’t talk much about his parents, they were important to him, and he never forgot where he came from.
Freddie’s background is interesting. He was born to Indian parents in Zanzibar, an island near Africa. He didn’t spend a lot of time with his parents while growing up because he went to a boarding school in India. In 1964, his family moved from Zanzibar to England to escape problems in their home country. They shared a lot about Freddie’s early years in England, and his sister put up a special sign to remember his time there.
Despite his fame, Freddie had a close and supportive relationship with his family. He liked having a normal family life when he wasn’t performing. Even though he changed his last name to “Mercury” for the stage, he still took pride in his family background. His sister mentioned that he and their family were very proud of their Zoroastrian faith.
Freddie’s parents Jer and Bomi Bulsara
Freddie Mercury, whose real name was Farrokh Bulsara, was born to his parents Jer and Bomi Bulsara in 1946 in Stone Town Zanzibar. They recognized his musical talent when he was young, and his mother, Jer, taught him how to play the piano. Jer spoke about their strong bond and how Freddie would often come home to visit when he wasn’t on tour. He would send postcards from his travels too.
Unfortunately, both of his parents had to live many years without Freddie, as he passed away from health issues related to AIDS at the age of 45. His father, Bomi, was deeply saddened by Freddie’s early death. In a documentary about Freddie’s life, his sister shared a heart-wrenching moment when their father read about Freddie’s passing and couldn’t hold back his tears, saying, “This should have been me, instead of Freddie.”
After Freddie’s passing, Jer and Bomi moved to Nottingham to be closer to their daughter Kashmira Bulsara. They both lived long lives—Bomi passed away at 95 in 2003, and Jer peacefully in her sleep at 94 in 2016.
Freddie Mercury’s only sister
Born in 1952, Freddie Mercury’s only sister, Kashmira Bulsara, has occasionally spoken about her famous brother in public. She has been living quietly in Sherwood, Nottingham for over 30 years. In a 2019 interview with Nottinghamshire Live, she shared her thoughts on the biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” and felt it was well-made but didn’t fully capture their family life.
Kashmira’s personal life isn’t widely known, but she married Roger Cooke and moved to Nottingham to support his career. Freddie visited her there, even though tight security was in place. Kashmira remains in Nottingham and has two children. After her separation from her husband, she resumed using her maiden name, Bulsara.
It’s rumored, as reported by UCR magazine, that Mercury’s sister is worth a substantial amount, as she inherited a quarter of his estate after he passed away. She continues to earn a significant income from album sales and royalties today.