'We had no money, just love and rickshaw rides': Muzammil Ibrahim opens up on dating Deepika Padukone

In the glamorous universe of Bollywood where nothing lasts for long and glamour eclipses the past, few are the tales that are straight from the heart. But model-turned-actor Muzammil Ibrahim just let out one such heartbreakingly true bombshell. In a tell-all interview, he spoke of an unrevealed chapter in Deepika Padukone's pre-Mumbai life a romance etched in rickshaws, monsoon outings, and birthday songs played on repeat.

Before stardom: A hidden love story in Mumbai's early 2000s

It was the early 2000s that Deepika Padukone, ambitious and fresh-faced, shifted to Mumbai to pursue her dreams. It was then that she met Muzammil Ibrahim, who was already making a name for himself in the field of modeling and music videos. Their friendship blossomed into a two-year romance, as noted by Muzammil during a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan.

We were together for two years. She was my first serious girlfriend, and I was her first boyfriend she'd met in Mumbai," he said. He sketched a picture that had nothing to do with today's luxury of one where love did not exist in five-star dinners but in joint rickshaw rides and borrowed DJ favours.

Rickshaw dates, rainy nights, and birthday songs on repeat

Muzammil recalled how both of them were struggling economically, but their relationship was laced with small pleasures. "We were young then. Dating in rickshaws in the rains it was cute. I had more money than her at that point. When I purchased a car, she was so excited for me," he said, his tone suffused with nostalgia.

There was one birthday memory that really stood out. Muzammil shared how he had arranged for Deepika's favorite song to be played for more than an hour at a party. "Despite having no money, the DJ played it on loop because we were friends. She was overjoyed," he added.

Why Muzammil broke up and where they stand today

In spite of the emotional bond, Muzammil decided to terminate the affair. "I was a star then; she wasn't. Now she's a superstar, and nobody remembers me. But I'm a fan I enjoy watching her films. She's doing great," he owned up with modesty. When inquired about their current equation, Muzammil replied that they have not spoken since Deepika got married to Ranveer Singh in 2019. "Before her wedding, we used to speak sometimes, greet each other. Now, life has moved on."

Today, Deepika Padukone is not only a global icon but also a mother. She welcomed her daughter Dua with Ranveer Singh in 2024 a new chapter for the actress who once shared rainy rickshaw rides and silent dreams with a boy from Mumbai’s modeling scene.