Love Across Borders: Indian-Pakistani Celebrity Couples Who Fell In Love

The controversial ties between India and Pakistan have existed for far too long. The memories of Partition still haunt many of our grandparents, who lived through it to witness the bloodshed. Moreover, fighting a number of wars and the Kashmir dispute has deterred the respective governments from finding a resolution. This environment fosters a hateful relationship between the two sister nations.

After the Uri attack in 2016, Pakistani artists were banned from working in Bollywood. In 2019, the All Indian Cine Workers Association called for a total ban on Pakistani artists due to the Pulwama terror attack. This further hampered the relationship.

However, this has not stopped regular people as well as celebrities from dating or even getting married across borders. In recent times, Amisha Patel’s friendship with Pakistani actor, Imran Abbas, has caused rumours that they both are dating. Patel has denied it, but here are four couples who found love across contentious borders:

Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik

Indian tennis icon Sania Mirza’s cross-border love with Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik led to plenty of eye-rolling. They first met at a restaurant in 2004 in Hobart, Australia. The brief encounter felt like a brush with destiny as the two met during Mirza’s tennis matches after that.

Mirza was going through a difficult time back then as she was battling injuries and her engagement with her childhood friend Sohrab Mirza was called off. Meanwhile, Malik was serving a year-long ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board after Pakistan’s sorrowful defeat in Australia. Professionally, they were both facing problems, but love began blossoming after their third meeting. After only a short courtship of five months, they decided to get married in 2010.

They faced a lot of trolling and criticism from their respective countries not only because of the sour ties between their nations, but also because Malik was already married to another woman, Maha Siddiqui. He came clean that Siddiqui had duped him, even though she has denied it.

All of these initial obstacles did not stop the couple from having a strong bond. Their marriage has prevailed over all challenges. They have been together for more than 10 years, and have a three-year-old son, Izhaan, who has been given both their surnames.

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Wasim Akram and Sushmita Sen

Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram and Indian star Sushmita Sen were perhaps an odd couple but they did get together for a while. Their relationship started on the sets of the Indian dance show, Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena, and love bloomed between them after the death of Akram’s wife, Huma, in 2009.

Apparently, they became friends at the first meeting only and after Akram’s wife’s death they both dated briefly before parting ways.

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Imitiaz Ali and Iman Ali

Bollywood filmmaker Imtiaz Ali was married to Preety Ali for over 10 years before their marriage ended in 2012, according to reports. The newly single director got close to the Pakistani model and actor, Iman Ali.

They grew so fond of each other that they also visited Delhi’s Nizamuddin dargah together before the release of Rockstar. However, due to personal differences, their love fizzled out and Iman returned to Pakistan.

The Coronavirus pandemic brought Imtiaz and his estranged wife, Preety, closer again and they maintain a cordial friendship. Latest reports suggest that Ali had moved back in with the latter and the two share responsibilities of taking care of their daughter, Ida.

Imran Khan and Zeenat Aman

Pakistan’s 22nd Prime Minister Imran Khan and Bollywood legend Zeenat Aman have allegedly dated.

During his tenure in the Pakistan cricket team, Khan charmed many Indian celebrities. Aman also caught the love bug among many because of his “playboy” persona.

When his cricket team toured India in 1979, Khan met Aman for the first time. Khan spent his 27th birthday not only with colleagues in the dressing room of the Bengaluru Cricket Stadium, but apparently also with the then-reigning queen of Bollywood, according to several Indian tabloids. However, neither confirmed nor denied their relationship. But, things went awry as they decided to end their relationship.

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