‘I Never Regret Leaving Deepika Padukone’: When Muzammil Ibrahim Opened Up About His Relationship With Bollywood Diva and Their Eventual Split (Watch Video)
In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, actor and former supermodel Muzammil Ibrahim opened up about his early-career, two-year relationship with Deepika Padukone, stating that he has no regrets about their past breakup. Ibrahim fondly recalled their time as young models in Mumbai, before the actress achieved Bollywood stardom.
Actor and former supermodel Muzammil Ibrahim recently opened up about his past personal life, revealing that he was in a serious, two-year relationship with Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone during their early days in Mumbai. Speaking in a candid interview on Siddharth Kannan’s podcast, Ibrahim shared details about their time together, how they met in the modelling circuit, and his perspective on their eventual breakup. The actor reflected fondly on their bond while noting that he holds no regrets regarding how things ended between them. ‘She Is a Superstar Now’: Muzammil Ibrahim Opens Up About Dating Deepika Padukone During Their Modelling Days, Reveals Actress Proposed to Him First (Watch Video).
Muzammil Ibrahim on His Relationship with Deepika Padukone
During his appearance on the podcast, Ibrahim stated that Padukone was his first serious relationship and that he was the first person she connected with upon moving to Mumbai. According to Ibrahim, they crossed paths during a Tommy Hilfiger fashion show after Padukone recognised him from his prominent modelling campaigns.
"We were in a relationship for two years," Ibrahim said during the interview. "She was very confident because she's Prakash Padukone's daughter, and articles would be written about her even then."
Reflecting on the early stages of their romance, Ibrahim noted that Padukone initially proposed to him, though he eventually decided to end the relationship. He explicitly stated that he harbors no lingering remorse over how the relationship concluded.
"Deepika proposed to me first. We broke up because I left her, but I don't regret it. I never regret leaving anyone," he explained.
Ibrahim recalled their time together as a period filled with simple, memorable moments before either achieved major cinematic stardom. "When we dated, we were both kids. We would go on dates on a rickshaw in the rain, that was very cute," he shared, adding that he once had a driver play her favourite song on loop for an hour and a half for her birthday.
Acknowledging Padukone's current status in the entertainment industry, Ibrahim added, "I was a star at that time, she was a budding model. She's a superstar now, 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 also clarified that the two remained on cordial terms and occasionally spoke up until her marriage to actor Ranveer Singh.
Muzammil Ibrahim Talks About His Relationship and Breakup With Deepika Padukone
Who is Muzammil Ibrahim?
Muzammil Ibrahim first gained national prominence in the early 2000s as a highly successful supermodel. Born in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, he achieved a major career milestone in 2003 by winning the Gladrags Manhunt Contest at a young age, quickly establishing himself as a top face on runways and in high-profile advertising campaigns.
Beyond modelling, Ibrahim became widely recognised for starring in popular music videos of the era, including Lucky Ali’s "Kabhi Aisa Lagta Hai" and the remix music video "Pardesia". Outside of his entertainment career, Ibrahim is a recipient of the National Bravery Award, which he received as a youth for saving a boy from drowning, as well as the Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award in 2008 for a separate civilian rescue in Goa.
Watch Muzammil Ibrahim's Full Interview:
Deepika Padukone and Muzammil Ibrahim's Work Front
Ibrahim made his formal Bollywood acting debut in 2007 as the lead in the Pooja Bhatt-directed thriller Dhokha. He followed his debut with roles in feature films such as the comedy Horn 'Ok' Pleassss (2009) and the romantic comedy Will You Marry Me? (2012). In recent years, Ibrahim transitioned into digital spaces, earning critical notice for his portrayal of Avinash in the Neeraj Pandey-directed espionage thriller series Special Ops and its subsequent expansions. Who Is Muzammil Ibrahim? Meet Deepika Padukone’s Lesser-Known Model-Actor Ex Boyfriend Whom She Dated for 2 Years.
Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone remains one of the highest-profile figures in global cinema. Following her definitive Bollywood debut in Om Shanti Om (2007), she has led numerous critically and commercially successful franchises. The actress will be next seen alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Siddharth Anand's action thriller KIng.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 10, 2026 12:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).