The controversial love life of Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan

Power couple celebrates sixth anniversary today

They say love conquers all. While some may disagree, the fairy tale of Bollywood stars Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan proves otherwise.

The pair celebrate sixth anniversary today. And while they're one of those couples that always seem loved up, make no mistake - their relationship is also scarred with a few controversies here and there.

PHOTO: HINDUSTAN TIMES

Saif and Kareena - or as some like to call the duo 'Saifeena' - began dating in 2007. And that alone created quite a buzz. Five years later, the couple tied the knot in an extravagant ceremony comprising six events.

Here's a lowdown of their controversial love life but how every time, they came out stronger.

The 'very public' pasts:

Before Kareena, the Sacred Games star had made headlines for his prominent love life. Back in 1991, the then 21-year-old budding actor married Indian diva, Armita Singh.

Saif wasn't really looking to settle down but the then 43-year-old Chambeli Ki Shaadi actor was adamant to tie the knot. And they did. However, their relationship came to an end thirteen years later. The couple had two kids, Sara and Ibrahim.

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After his separation with Amrita in 2004, Saif allegedly moved on to an Italian born star, Rosa Catalano. But the starlet alleged that she had no knowledge of the Cocktail star's previous marriage or kids. She only came to know about Saif's past once she landed in India.

The relationship abruptly ended after few months.

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Kareena, however, only had one public relationship. Although she has been linked to actor Hrithik Roshan in the past, she was only ever open about her ties with Shahid Kapoor.

Rumour had it that the she and Hrithik became close during the shooting of Subhash Ghai's Yaadein. Hrithik, however, later rubbished all the reports of the couple dating.

PHOTO: HINDUSTAN TIMES

Kareena's relationship with her Fida co-star Shahid made headlines soon after. The couple fell in love during the shoot of the their first film and went on to work on three more films, 36 China Town, Chupke Chupke and Jab We Met.

However, speculations regarding Kareena and Saif's relationship began while the Ki & Ka star was shooting for Tashan. Kareena reportedly cheated on Shahid with Saif and thus, their relationship hit rock bottom.

Saif and Kareena confirmed their relationship after some time.

PHOTO: HINDUSTAN TIMES

The religious values:

It was rumoured that Kareena might have to convert to Islam in order to marry the Humshakals actor. However, that wasn't the case. In a previous interview, defending his marriage to the Veere Di Wedding star, Saif said that they had got married under the Special Marriage Act. “No one converts and even if they did, why should it be a problem really? God knows who gets offended and starts a chain," he said.

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The starlet had chosen to remain silent on the subject. However, Saif had vocally criticised the trollers, labelling the bashing unfair. Saif's mother Sharmila Tagore, a former Hindu, had converted to Islam on her marriage to Saif’s Muslim father, former Indian cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

Saif's first wife, Amrita Singh, a Sikh had converted to Islam. Kareena officially added Khan in her name but chose not to change her religion.

PHOTO: HINDUSTAN TIMES

The 'Taimur' controversy:

Later, in 2016, when the couple welcomed their first child, Taimur Ali Khan, Saif stated that his son will be given the liberty of choosing which religion to follow, his Hindu mother’s or Muslim father’s.

“My wife and I will try that our son is a wonderful ambassador of our country. He will be free to choose whatever religion he likes. I want him to be a liberal, open-minded and down-to-earth like we are,” The Indian Express quoted Saif as saying.

PHOTO: HINDUSTAN TIMES

People across India criticised the superstar couple for selecting a name so similar to that of the Mongol invader Timur and while Saif and Kareena didn’t take the matter too seriously, he did admit that some of the comments were much too harsh. “Someone said ‘I hope Taimur dies.’ That’s a little regressive…” he said.

Referring to the name, the Dil Chahta Hai star said that it has always been one that he really liked.

PHOTO: HINDUSTAN TIMES

“When I spoke to my wife about ‘Taimur,’ she loved the name, the meaning of the name and the sound of it. I am also aware that there is a historical person of the same name. But someone please explain to me why is it relevant today? Why is what happened 900 years ago relevant? Why are people still talking about that? How can that be connected to the name? I don’t understand it and if I can’t understand, I don’t care.”

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