Muzammil Ibrahim recalls rickshaw rides in the rain and other fond memories from his relationship with Deepika Padukone
The North News
Chandigarh, June 6
Before becoming one of the leading names in Indian cinema, Deepika Padukone shared a quiet chapter of her life with model-turned-actor Muzammil Ibrahim. In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, Muzammil confirmed that the two were in a relationship for about two years during their early careers in Mumbai.
He described Deepika as confident and focused, noting that even in her early days, she carried the self-assurance that came from being the daughter of badminton champion Prakash Padukone. “She proposed to me, and we were together for a couple of years. I was the first person she dated seriously in Bombay,” he said.
At the time, Muzammil was already gaining recognition, having won the Gladrags Manhunt India title in 2003. He recalled that while he had started earning more steadily and had bought his first car, their relationship was simple and grounded. “We would go on rickshaw dates in the rain. Even with limited means, we were happy,” he said, adding that those moments have stayed with him.
Muzammil also mentioned thoughtful gestures from that time, including arranging for Deepika’s favourite song to be played repeatedly at a birthday party. He noted that the two stayed in occasional contact for some years after the breakup but stopped communicating after Deepika’s marriage to actor Ranveer Singh in 2018.
Reflecting on her success, Muzammil said he has no regrets and wishes her well. “She is doing great. Everyone knows her; nobody knows me. I’m happy watching her movies. She has the life she once hoped for.”
He confirmed that it was he who ended the relationship and that there is no bitterness in retrospect. For him, it remains a meaningful part of a much earlier phase in both their lives.
