In a rare and heartfelt revelation, actor and model Muzammil Ibrahim opened up about his two-year relationship with Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone during their early modeling days. Speaking candidly in an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Muzammil shared memories of their young love, rain-soaked rickshaw dates, and how Deepika’s confidence and charm left a lasting impression on him.
“She Proposed to Me” – Muzammil Opens Up
Muzammil initially appeared hesitant to talk about the past, respecting Deepika’s current life as a wife and mother. However, he confirmed that the two dated seriously for two years, starting when they were both upcoming models in Mumbai. “She was the first girl I seriously dated, and I was the first guy she met in Bombay,” he revealed. “She proposed to me, but I broke it off later. At the time, I was a rising star, and she was a budding model.”
Reflecting on their early days together, Muzammil acknowledged Deepika’s strong presence even back then, saying, “She was very confident because she’s Prakash Padukone’s daughter, and articles were already being written about her.”
Romantic Memories and Rickshaw Rides
Describing their bond as “young and innocent,” Muzammil reminisced about the sweet, low-key moments they shared—taking rickshaw rides in the rain, going on humble dates, and even playing her favorite songs for hours on her birthday. “I asked my DJ friend to play her favorite track on loop for one and a half hours,” he shared. “My mom adored her.”
He added that despite their limited means back then, they were truly happy. “I was making more money than her at the time, and when I bought my first car, she was so happy for me. Neither of us had much, but we had each other.”
No Bitterness, Just Gratitude
Muzammil stated that they remained friends for a few years after their breakup but have not spoken since Deepika’s marriage to actor Ranveer Singh. He expressed no resentment, only admiration, for her success and the life she’s built. “She always wanted a family, and now she has a beautiful one. She deserves it,” he said, referring to Deepika and Ranveer’s baby daughter, Dua.
A Missed Bollywood Opportunity
In the same interview, Muzammil also shared how he was the original choice for Aditya Roy Kapur’s role in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), which ultimately starred Deepika alongside Ranbir Kapoor. “Fate had other plans,” he noted.
Muzammil, who won the Mr. India title in 2003, began his film career with Dhokha in 2007 and later starred in Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss and Will You Marry Me?. In recent years, he made a comeback with the Disney+ Hotstar series Special Ops (2020).
Sources By Agencies
