Sonakshi Sinha Weds Zaheer Iqbal: Here are 8 more Indian Celebs Who Married Muslim Men
Star of hit movies like Dabangg and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's hit television show Heeramandi, Sonakshi Sinha got married to actor and model Zaheer Iqbal. Iqbal, hails from an affluent business family himself and the two tied the knot on the 23rd of June under the Special Marriage Act (secular law that allows inter-caste and inter-faith marriage in India).
The wedding has re-sparked a lot of buzz and debates surrounding inter-faith marriages of popular Indian actresses in Bollywood.
Let's take a look at some notable Indian celebs who married Muslims.
Before Shahrukh Khan’s debut in the movies in 1992 with Deewana, he was already a married man. In 1991, Gauri Khan (formerly Chhibber) and Shahrukh Khan tied the knot. They are one of Bollywood’s most happily married couples. According to Gauri Khan, their 3 children; Aryan Khan, Suhana Khan & AbRam practice and celebrate both Muslim and Hindu customs and traditions.
Lovingly dubbed as Saifeena by fans, prior to their wedding in 2012, their highly publicised relationship was one of the most anticipated Bollywood weddings ever. Although the actress has not converted to Islam, the couple are happily married and share two sons, Taimur Ali Khan and Jeh Ali Khan.
Before his demise in 2011, the pair were together for more than four decades. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Indian cinema, Sharmila Tagore tied the knot with famed Indian cricket team captain, Tiger Pataudi in 1968. Together they have three children, actors Saif and Soha Ali Khan and their elder daughter, Saba Pataudi.
The host-actor was only 25 when she got married to Salman Khan’s younger brother, Arbaaz Khan who is an actor and film producer. The couple known for their public appearances together, shockingly parted ways in 2017. Since then, each of them has moved on in their personal lives. Khan married makeup artist Sshura Khan in 2023 and Malaika Arora has been with actor Arjun Kapoor for a few years with reports of a wedding coming soon. However, the two continue to co-parent their son Arhaan Khan.
Malaika Arora’s younger sister; actress, model and VJ, Amrita Arora got married to the construction industry entrepreneur in 2009. The pair met through a mutual friend, Ladak’s first wife, Nisha Rana.Their wedding had multiple elaborate ceremonies including a Christian wedding and a Nikkah. They welcomed their sons Azaan and Rayaan in 2010 and 2012, respectively.
The pair are known for their critically acclaimed work in television, cinema and theatre that spreads beyond the Hindi film industry. The philanthropic couple wedded in 1982, back when it was still uncommon for Indian actresses to marry Muslims. Ratna Pathak Shah has often spoken about how Naseeruddin Shah’s family never forced her to convert her faith, she asserted, “Nobody made a fuss.” An interfaith marriage that has stood the test of time for more than four decades, they share two sons, Imaad and Vivaan Shah.
One of the most outspoken actresses of her time, Swara Bhaskar’s contentious marriage to Muslim youth leader and political activist Fahad Ahmad in 2023 sparked quite the debate among the Hindu and Muslim communities in India. From Hindus calling for Swara to be banned from films Muslims labelling the marriage unholy, the couple have faced quite a lot of scrutiny in the public eye. The couple also welcomed a baby girl named Raabiya.
Like Swara and Fahad, Heeramandi actress Richa Chadha and Victoria & Abdul actor Ali Fazal got married under the Special Marriage Act in 2020. Although their legal marriage was four years ago, they decided to publicly and officially celebrate their union in October of 2022 in Mumbai. The two have been vocal about their indifference to public opinion on their marriage and are set to welcome their first child this July.