When you hear the names Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal, the first image that comes to mind is that of a couple deeply, unapologetically in love. Their secret romance, the sudden marriage announcement last year, and now Sonakshi’s YouTube vlogs—everything about them has won the internet’s heart. Fans adore their chemistry, their comfort, and the easy understanding they share. But behind the dreamy exterior was real work, real effort, and a phase that almost broke them.
In a candid conversation with Soha Ali Khan on her podcast, Sonakshi revealed that just three years into their relationship, they hit a major rough patch.
“We were three years into the relationship when we reached a phase where we wanted to pull each other’s hair out,” she said. “No matter what we did, we just couldn’t understand each other’s perspective. But in our hearts, we knew we had to make this work somehow. That’s when we decided to do couple’s therapy—and it was Zaheer who suggested it.”
Zaheer’s determination surprised and encouraged her.
“He told me, ‘I want this relationship to work, no matter what. I’ve heard about therapy, let’s just give it a shot.’ I agreed, and I’m so glad I did. Just two sessions later, we were back on track. It helped us understand how the other person thinks and that what they say isn’t always what they mean. Even tiny things—like recognising where your partner is coming from—changed everything.”
Soha agreed wholeheartedly, adding that counselling gives couples essential tools: “If you can remember them in moments when you’re triggered—when to calm down, what words not to use—it fixes communication. And communication works only when both people truly want to make it work.”
Sonakshi and Zaheer secretly dated for nearly seven years before marrying in an intimate ceremony at home last year. Their interfaith wedding drew criticism from some sections, but the couple brushed off the negativity and stood firmly with each other.
