Muzammil Ibrahim Claims Past Relationship with Deepika Padukone During Her Early Mumbai Days

Global icon Deepika Padukone is among the most celebrated and influential actresses in Indian cinema today. She made a grand Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Farah Khan’s blockbuster Om Shanti Om in 2007.

Even before entering films, Deepika had earned fame as a successful model. While her professional milestones quickly grabbed attention, her personal life also frequently made headlines.

Before she married Ranveer Singh, Deepika was romantically linked with several actors, most notably Ranbir Kapoor. But not many know who her first boyfriend was.

Deepika’s First Known Relationship

Deepika Padukone’s first relationship was with model-turned-actor Muzammil Ibrahim. In a recent interview, Muzammil shared insights into their early relationship.

Speaking with Siddharth Kannan, he revealed that the two met during their modelling days while walking the ramp for Tommy Hilfiger. According to Muzammil, Deepika was the one who initiated the relationship.

They dated for about two years during a time when Deepika had just moved to Mumbai and Muzammil had already gained popularity.

Reason Behind the Breakup

Muzammil said, “Deepika is a very nice girl. We were good friends and still are. At that time, she was a model and I had already entered films.”

When asked why they broke up, he revealed that he ended the relationship. “This was my first serious relationship. I left Deepika, but I have no regrets about it,” he stated.

Despite their separation, Muzammil expressed his admiration for Deepika’s achievements. “She is a superstar today. Everyone knows her, whereas hardly anyone knows me now. But I am a big fan of hers. I always want to see her happy,” he said. He also made it clear that there was never any bitterness or ego clash between them.

Muzammil’s Early Career and Background

Born in 1986, Muzammil Ibrahim once had a promising career. He won the Gladrags Manhunt India title in 2003 while pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi.

After his modelling career, he entered Bollywood in 2007 with Pooja Bhatt’s film Dhokha. Later, he appeared in Horn OK Please and Will You Marry Me, but these films failed to make an impact, stalling his film career.

Most recently, he was seen in the Disney+ Hotstar series Special Ops, which premiered in 2020.

Memories of Their Time Together

Deepika moved to Mumbai in the early 2000s to start her modelling career. Around the same time, Muzammil was making a name for himself after appearing in music videos.

In his interview, he shared that their relationship lasted two years and began shortly after Deepika’s move to the city.

Since they were both at the beginning of their careers, they didn’t have much money. Muzammil recalled going on rickshaw dates during the monsoon.

“We were kids then. We would go on dates in a rickshaw in the rains. That was very cute. I had more money than her because I had started earning better. Then I bought a car and she was very happy about that. These things are very memorable because I have not been on a date in a rickshaw since then, and we were so happy even though we had no money,” he said.

A Glimpse of Deepika’s Early Personality

When asked about Deepika’s nature in those early years, Muzammil said, “She was very confident because she is Prakash Padukone’s daughter so everyone knew about her.”

He confirmed that it was Deepika who first asked him out, although he ended the relationship. “I was a star at that time, she was not. She is a superstar now. Everyone knows her, nobody knows me. I am a big fan. I love watching her movies. She is a beautiful woman. She is doing so great but the fact is what it is,” he said.

Where They Stand Today

Muzammil was asked whether they still speak. He responded that after Deepika’s marriage to Ranveer Singh in 2019, they haven’t kept in touch.

“Before she got married, we would talk sometimes,” he shared, adding that they maintained a cordial bond and congratulated each other on career milestones occasionally.

He fondly recalled a birthday memory when he had the DJ play her favorite song on loop. “Even with no money, the DJ would play the song that she liked because I was friends with the DJ. For an hour and a half, he just played that song because it was her birthday,” he shared.