Sonakshi Sinha is still glowing from newlywed bliss, and in a candid conversation, she opened up about her love story with husband Zaheer Iqbal, recalling their first meeting at Salman Khan’s house, how she confessed love within a week, and why she believes laughter keeps her marriage strong. Speaking about their first encounter, Sonakshi revealed they met at a party at Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments, years after frequently crossing paths without ever interacting. “For six or seven years, we kept missing each other. Then one day, we finally met, and I was like — okay, this guy is very confident! He made me laugh, and usually, people get intimidated by me. I don’t know why, but his confidence really struck me,” she shared with Ranveer Allahbadia.That night turned into something special. “After the Tubelight screening, we were sitting in one corner for five hours straight, just talking about everything under the sun. It felt like I had known him forever. It was beautiful — it felt like home,” Sonakshi said with a smile.
‘Love at first chat’
The Heeramandi actress confessed that her feelings for Zaheer developed almost instantly. “For me, it was love at that first chat. Within a week of knowing him, I told him that I loved him,” she recalled, laughing.Zaheer, however, was taken back. “He actually called his best friend and said, ‘Yeh ladki paagal hai!’ He thought I didn’t know what love meant and that I was probably love-deprived,” Sonakshi joked. “But I can’t explain it — I’ve never felt like this for anyone.”She added that she was at a stage in life where she didn’t want to play games. “I felt what I felt — raw and real. Take it or leave it. And cut to seven years later, we’re married!”
‘He’s been making me laugh for eight years’
Sonakshi also revealed that her instant connection with Zaheer has a lot to do with his sense of humor and positivity. “He’s constantly making me laugh. I think that’s his superpower,” she said.Calling consistency the secret to a lasting relationship, she added, “It’s one thing to make someone laugh for a while, but this guy has been doing it for eight years! That’s why I still love him. You can’t underestimate the importance of keeping your partner entertained.”Describing Zaheer’s personality, Sonakshi said, “He’s such a positive, happy-go-lucky person. If I had to compare him to a movie character, I’d say he’s like Shah Rukh Khan in DDLJ. And he loves Shah Rukh too!”
‘From best friend to husband’
Reflecting on their journey, Sonakshi shared that Zaheer has evolved beautifully over time. “He’s taken up every role — from my best friend to boyfriend, fiancé, and now husband — so gracefully. I really appreciate that about him,” she said.The actress concluded by saying their relationship is built on friendship and laughter. “We’re literally two best friends just living life. That’s the key — love and friendship. He keeps me entertained 24×7, and I live for that nonsense,” she said, smiling.
