Bollywood is no stranger to rumors about celebrity relationships and link-ups, but very few ever get confirmed. While most stories stay hidden or fade away with time, some surface years later and leave everyone surprised.
One such story has recently come to light, an unexpected love story between Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone and actor-model Muzammil Ibrahim.
Deepika Padukone is one of the biggest names in Indian cinema, known for her powerful performances and global fame. Muzammil Ibrahim, on the other hand, may not be as widely recognized, but he has had an impactful journey in the entertainment world.
He is a model-turned-actor who won the Gladrags Manhunt Mr. India title in 2003. Originally from Srinagar, Kashmir, Muzammil moved to Mumbai due to unrest in the region and pursued a career in modeling and acting.
He made his acting debut in Pooja Bhatt’s film Dhokha in 2007 and later appeared in films like Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss and Will You Marry Me?. He made a comeback with Special Ops in 2020.
Beyond acting, Muzammil is also known for his bravery. He received the National Bravery Award as a child in 1992 for saving a drowning boy and the Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award in 2008 for saving a tourist in Goa. He’s also a national-level swimming champion and a martial arts enthusiast.
In a recent heart-to-heart interview with Siddharth Kannan, Muzammil revealed his past relationship with Deepika Padukone. He shared that they fell in love during their modeling days and were in a serious relationship for two years. What’s more surprising is that it was Deepika who proposed to him. Recalling their time together, Muzammil said:
“We dated during our modeling days. We did a show for Tommy Hilfiger together. And she had seen me in Gladrags, Pardesiya, and all of that, and liked me a lot. That is how we met. We dated for two years… It was my first actual relationship. Deepika proposed to me first.”
He described their early days as full of simple, sweet memories—riding in auto rickshaws during the rains, and enjoying music together. One particular memory stood out for him:
“We both were very young at that time, and it used to feel extremely sweet how we would roam around in auto rickshaws while it rained in the city. I remember this, once, I had asked the driver to play her favorite song, and for 1.5 hours, he only played that song. She was so happy.”
Their relationship ended after two years, and Muzammil admitted that he was the one who ended it. Despite that, they eventually rebuilt a warm friendship and continued to cheer each other on in life. Muzammil spoke fondly of Deepika and her journey to becoming a global icon:
“We broke up because I left her, but I don’t regret it… She was a model, but I had become an actor already. She is a superstar now. Everyone knows her, nobody knows me. I am a big fan. I love her work, and I feel really happy when I see her doing good in life. I have spent so much time with her, I always want to see her happy.”
He also revealed that they stayed in touch from time to time, especially before she got married:
“Before her wedding, we would talk sometimes, and she was always very sweet. We didn’t become friends immediately after our breakup, but eventually, we got in touch again. We would congratulate each other on our achievements, and always hyped each other up.”
Today, Deepika Padukone is married to actor Ranveer Singh and the couple recently welcomed their daughter Dua. Muzammil Ibrahim, meanwhile, remains unmarried. His story with Deepika might be from the past, but the way he recalls it with warmth, respect, and honesty shows how some love stories, even if they don’t last, always stay special.