RELIGION WILL NEVER COME BETWEEN ZAHEER AND ME

Actor Sonakshi Sinha on how respect, not religion, is the backbone of her relationship with husband, actor Zaheer Iqbal
Sonal Kalra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 20, 2025)

Sonakshi Sinha is having the time of her life. The actor, who is all set to make her Telugu debut, has been basking in wedded bliss, having married her best friend, actor Zaheer Iqbal last year.

Since theirs is an interfaith union, some end up wondering whether this aspect plays a role in their marriage. Addressing it on the weekly show The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra, Sonakshi shares, “No, it’s never played a role. There are certain customs he and his family follow that I respect, and certain customs my family follows, which they respect. That’s the beauty of being brought up in a country with diverse religions.”

The actor also asserts, “Religion is something that will never come in between the two of us. There’s never been a fight or tension when it comes to this. Our strength lies in respecting each other.”

Asked whether her parents (actor Shatrughan Sinha and politician Poonam Sinha) give Zaheer typical ‘damad ji’ treatment or treat him like her brothers Luv and Kush, Sonakshi replies with a laugh, “100% damad! When he’s home, everybody runs helter-skelter ki, ‘Damad ji aa rahe hain!’ Food has to be ready, my mom will ask me, ‘Kya khayega?’ She wants to cook elaborate dishes for her damad ji. Dad loves spending time with him, they have become really good friends. When they’re together, I’m usually khamosh!”

As for how they keep the love alive, having dated for seven years before they got married, the 38-year-old notes, “We say we want to find someone we want to grow old with. After being with a person like Zaheer, you realize you need someone you can remain a child with. Ussi se hansi mazak barkarar rehta hai. You are constantly laughing. This was something I was missing in my life. Ab aa chuka hai, toh I couldn’t be happier.”

On the work side of things, Sonakshi Sinha recently marked 15 years of her film career. Her debut film, Dabangg, opposite Salman Khan, was a hit that established her as an actor to watch out for. “Yakeen hi nahin hua ki 15 years ho gaye,” she exclaims.

But bagging her first film was a journey Sonakshi wasn’t looking to undertake, since her interest in fashion design took up all her time in her formative years. Recalling the shift on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra, she shares, “I always say acting by mistake ho gaya, but what a beautiful mistake to have happened. I used to top my classes in my three-year fashion design course. Mazza aa raha tha. I wanted to do something with that.”

However, her family was close to Salman and his family, who often tried to convince the 38-year-old to foray into acting. But she had her apprehensions: “I was heavily overweight — over 90kg at the time. Koi inclination nahin tha acting ki taraf. After completing my course, I lost some weight, as I felt I was very unhealthy for an 18-year-old. Later, Arbaaz (Khan, producer of Dabangg) saw me ushering at a fashion show and said, ‘I will come to you with a film; you are perfect for this role.’ I didn’t take him seriously at all!”

She goes on to share, “Then one day Arbaaz, Abhinav (Kashyap, the film’s director) and the writer Dilip Shukla came home. Mum and dad sat with them and listened to the film’s narration. Sabne ek dusre ko dekha, nod kiya aur haath milaya. Nobody asked me whether I want to do this or not! The next thing I know, I was on set.”