Bollywood couple Zarina Wahab and Aditya Pancholi have been married for over three decades, making them one of the rare pairs in the industry to have sustained a long-term relationship despite numerous ups and downs. The couple’s journey, however, has been anything but smooth, with public controversies and personal challenges along the way.
Zarina and Aditya first met on the sets of “Kalank Ka Tika”and soon fell in love. Despite an age difference of six years, with Zarina being the older partner and opposition from Zarina’s mother, the couple followed their hearts and tied the knot in 1986. However, their marriage has faced significant turbulence over the years, particularly due to Aditya’s extramarital relationships that were highly publicised.
In 1993, Aditya made headlines for his affair with actress Pooja Bedi, which eventually became a public scandal. The relationship ended when Pooja’s maid accused Aditya of sexual abuse, leading to an FIR being filed against him. The controversies didn’t stop there; in 2004, Aditya was rumoured to be dating actress Kangana Ranaut, with whom he had several public spats. Kangana accused him of physical abuse, while Aditya claimed that the actress had financially abused him.
Despite these scandals, Zarina remained remarkably calm and composed, revealing in a recent interview with Lehren Retro that she was always prepared for such situations. “I was always aware of Nirmal’s affairs, but I never questioned him. I only cared about how he treated me when he was home,” Zarina explained. She added that asking questions would have made Aditya “fearless,” and she chose to turn a blind eye to his relationships outside of their marriage.
When asked about the accusations made by Pooja Bedi and Kangana, Zarina defended her husband, stating, “He has never been an abusive husband. He is such a sweetheart. Ulta mai maar du use (For once, I might beat him), but he is very sweet.” According to Zarina, Aditya’s relationships with his girlfriends ended because they didn’t get what they wanted.
Zarina also spoke about Kangana, who dated Aditya for four and a half years. She revealed that she was always kind to Kangana, who frequently visited their home, and that Aditya had been equally nice to her. However, Zarina hinted that she saw the issues in their relationship that Aditya could not.
In 2019, Kangana filed an FIR accusing Aditya of raping her when she was a newcomer in the industry. Aditya later moved the Bombay High Court in 2022 to quash the rape charges.
Despite the controversies, Zarina has consistently praised Aditya as a “great husband and father.” She noted that he has always been supportive of her career, never stopping her from working or travelling. Together, they have two children, a daughter named Sana and a son named Sooraj.
Despite the challenges, Zarina’s unwavering support for her husband reflects her commitment to their long-lasting marriage.