Mumbai: Actor Sonakshi Sinha has revealed that she was the first to express her love for husband Zaheer Iqbal, saying she did not wait for him to make the first move in their relationship. The actor also said she would have proposed to him herself if he had not taken the initiative.
The couple opened up about their relationship, their early days of dating and their everyday routine in a recent interview with Mashable India. The conversation comes ahead of the theatrical release of their upcoming film Tu Hai Meri Kiran, scheduled for October 23.
Known for their playful exchanges and affectionate public appearances, Sonakshi and Zaheer offered a glimpse into how their relationship developed. While recalling their early conversations, the couple spoke about how quickly they recognised their feelings for each other and how comfortable they were expressing them.
Sonakshi Sinha says she made the first move
Sonakshi revealed that she told Zaheer she loved him within a week of dating him. For the actor, the decision came naturally because she felt certain about her emotions.
“I said I love you within a week. I knew it. When you know it, you know it. You don’t experience such strong feelings with everyone,” Sonakshi said.
Zaheer also recalled how Sonakshi had once surprised him during a casual conversation by declaring that she would marry him one day.
“She said, ‘I am going to marry you one day,’” Zaheer recalled, adding that his immediate response was, “Excuse me?”
The exchange reflected Sonakshi’s direct approach to expressing her feelings. Rather than waiting for Zaheer to make the first move, she chose to tell him what she felt.
Zaheer recalled that the two were dating when Sonakshi said, “I love you.” Sonakshi confirmed that she had made the declaration herself and was not interested in waiting for him to say it first.
“I declared it. I didn’t wait for him to make the first move,” she said.
The actor added that she would have taken the next step herself if Zaheer had not proposed. “If he did not propose to me, I would have done it because it was about time he did,” she said.
Her comments offered a light-hearted account of the early phase of their relationship, with the couple looking back on how their romance progressed from dating to marriage.
Zaheer Iqbal planned a proposal under the Northern Lights
Although Sonakshi was quick to express her feelings, she acknowledged that Zaheer was better at planning grand romantic gestures.
The actor said she had not imagined a particularly elaborate way of expressing her love, while Zaheer was more comfortable organising such moments.
Zaheer eventually proposed to Sonakshi under the Northern Lights during their holiday in Finland. The setting provided a memorable backdrop for the proposal, which became an important milestone in their relationship.
The couple married on June 23, 2024. Their wedding followed years of knowing each other and a relationship that they had largely kept private before publicly acknowledging it.
Since their marriage, Sonakshi and Zaheer have frequently appeared together at public events and shared moments from their lives on social media. Their interactions often feature teasing, humour and affectionate exchanges, giving fans a glimpse of their rapport.
Their latest interview adds another detail to the story of how their relationship began, with Sonakshi’s willingness to express her feelings emerging as a defining part of their early romance.
Sonakshi and Zaheer reveal their relaxed Sunday routine
The conversation was not limited to their love story. Sonakshi and Zaheer also spoke about how they spend their Sundays, revealing that their preferred way to unwind is to avoid making plans altogether.
Zaheer described their routine simply: “We sit and do nothing.”
The couple said they do not follow a fixed schedule on Sundays. They wake up whenever they want, without setting alarms, have breakfast, take naps and spend time relaxing at home.
Their approach reflects a shared preference for unstructured downtime rather than filling every free day with activities or commitments.
Sonakshi also spoke about how much she enjoys simply lying on the sofa and letting time pass. She described the experience as therapeutic, suggesting that doing very little can be a welcome break from busy professional schedules.
For two actors whose work involves filming, promotions, travel and public appearances, an unscheduled day at home offers an opportunity to slow down and spend time together without the demands of work.
Their comments also revealed a more everyday side of their relationship, away from film sets, interviews and red-carpet appearances.
Couple balances work and personal life
Sonakshi and Zaheer’s relationship has attracted attention partly because of their easygoing public interactions. Whether they are appearing together at events, sharing videos or talking about each other in interviews, the pair often display a playful dynamic.
Their professional lives have also brought them together on screen, with Tu Hai Meri Kiran marking another project associated with the couple.
The upcoming release provides the backdrop for their latest interview, in which they discussed both the beginnings of their romance and the routines that help them relax away from work.
Sonakshi’s account of expressing her feelings first also challenges the familiar expectation that one partner must wait for the other to initiate a romantic declaration. Her comments suggest that she was comfortable taking the lead because she was confident about what she felt.
Zaheer’s recollection of her marriage declaration, meanwhile, offered a humorous perspective on how their relationship developed.
A love story built on openness and companionship
The couple’s interview offered a combination of romantic memories and everyday details. Sonakshi recalled telling Zaheer she loved him within a week of dating, while also making it clear that she would have proposed herself if he had not taken the initiative.
Zaheer, in turn, planned a memorable proposal under the Northern Lights in Finland before the couple married in June 2024.
Their description of Sundays spent waking up without alarms, having breakfast, napping and relaxing at home showed another side of their relationship: a preference for simple routines and time spent together.
As they prepare for the release of Tu Hai Meri Kiran, the couple’s latest conversation has offered fans a glimpse into both the early stages of their romance and the quieter moments of their married life.