Why Sonakshi Sinha hid her relationship with Zaheer Iqbal for years, her story ahead of troll storm: ‘I wanted…’

When Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha and actor Zaheer Iqbal quietly completed their civil marriage on June 23, 2024, many speculated, Sonakshi would change her faith. Nothing of that sort happened. Still, the couple faced relentless trolling online. The negativity eventually forced them to disable comments on their social media posts. But the backlash didn’t end; public scrutiny continued.

Now, on a chat show hosted by actress Soha Ali Khan, Sonakshi has finally explained why she kept her relationship hidden for nearly three years. She says the decision was driven by her desire to be recognised for her professional achievements rather than her personal life.

Why did Sonakshi keep the relationship private for years?

Sonakshi explained, “I wanted people to talk about my work, not who I was dating. I’ve worked hard and didn’t want that to be overshadowed.” She admitted she didn’t even tell her parents about Zaheer until she felt ready. She said she wanted to keep the relationship private until she was confident enough to face public reaction.

It was a long wait, seven years of dating, before she and Zaheer officially tied the knot. Their first meeting was at a party in 2013; their bond strengthened at an after-party in 2017, and eventually they exchanged vows in a close-knit civil ceremony in 2024 with family and a few friends present.

How did she handle the backlash after marriage?

During the podcast, Sonakshi shared how hurtful constant speculation and negative comments felt. She said, “It all feels like noise. I’m neither the first nor the last to face this. It felt foolish at the time.” For her and Zaheer, their marriage was a beautiful moment. And they chose to ignore all the negativity.

Because they live in the age of social media, Sonakshi confessed that she simply couldn’t read cruel comments. She said she didn’t want any negativity on that special day, not about herself, her partner, or her family.

A long journey, from dating to marriage

Sonakshi and Zaheer’s relationship spanned many years, from a chance meeting at Salman Khan’s party in 2013 to a deeper connection in 2017, and ultimately their civil marriage in 2024. After their wedding, they hosted a grand reception for film-industry friends and have since been sharing glimpses of their travels and life on social media, albeit with privacy carefully guarded.