"We are now man and wife," longtime actor couple Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal said on Sunday after their low-key ceremony in the presence of family and close friends.
Sonakshi, 37, and Zaheer, 35, wed in a civil marriage at the Heeramandi star's sea-facing Bandra West apartment with the blessings of their families and "both of our gods".
The newlyweds shared the news of their wedding in a joint Instagram post.
"On this very day, seven years back (23.06.2017) in each other's eyes, we saw love in its purest form and dedicated to hold on to it.
"Today that love has guided us through all the challenges and triumphs... leading up to this moment... where with the blessings of both of our families and both of our gods... we are now man and wife. Here's to love, hope, and all things beautiful with each other, from now until forever," the couple captioned their wedding pictures.
The bride and groom twinned in ivory: Sonakshi wore her mother Poonam Sinha's wedding saree and completed her look with a sleek bun and gajra, whereas Zaheer was dressed in an embroidered kurta-pajama.
Sonakshi and Zaheer first collaborated on the music video for the song Blockbuster, which was released in September 2022. Months later, they co-starred in the comedy drama Double XL.
The duo didn't publicly confirm their relationship, but were often spotted attending events and social gatherings together. From attending each other's birthday parties, award wins to going scuba diving on holiday, Sonakshi and Zaheer often gave a glimpse into their lives to fans and followers on social media.
Sonakshi's Heeramandi co-star Aditi Rao Hydari attended the wedding along with her fiance, actor Siddharth as well as Double XL co-star-friend Huma Qureshi.
The newlyweds later hosted a reception for friends and industry colleagues at a fine-dining restaurant in Dadar.
For the post-wedding festivities, Sonakshi opted for a red Banarasi saree and Zaheer donned a white open jacket with a shirt and paired it with matching pants.
The reception was attended by film personalities including Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Bela Segal, Gulshan Devaiah, Reema Kagti, Padmini Kolhapure, Qureshi, Saqib Saleem, Siddharth Kak, Mudassar Aziz, Anil Kapoor, Chunky Pandey, Aanand L Rai, Kajol, Saira Banu, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Ali Abbas Zafar, Raveena Tandon, Anees Bazmee, Vidya Balan, Siddharth Roy Kapur, and Tabu.
Sweet boxes with a gratitude note from the couple were distributed to the media stationed outside the reception venue.
"Thank you for showering us with so much love, happiness, and kindness on the most important day of our lives! Your support and wishes mean the world to us," read a message from Sonakshi and Zaheer.
Though there was no official confirmation from the couple, the rumours of their wedding started doing social media rounds earlier this month.
While Sonakshi was last seen in the Netflix series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, in which she played the dual role of Rehaana and Fareedan, Zaheer had a special appearance in the action film Ruslaan.
The wedding celebrations kicked off on Thursday with a family get-together of the bride and groom, which was followed by a mehendi ceremony the next day.
The Sinha family hosted a pooja ceremony on Saturday evening at their Juhu residence Ramayana, which was decked up with lights.
There were reports that Sonakshi's father, veteran star and TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha was unhappy about his daughter not informing the family about the wedding. The rumours were put to rest as Shatrughan Sinha was all smiles while posing with the groom and his family earlier this week.
Zaheer is the son of city's renowned jeweller Iqbal Ratansi. His sister Sanam Ratansi is a celebrity stylist and costume designer.
Forum brings UK and Chinese film professionals together to explore collaborations.
Emerging British-Asian talent gain mentorship and international exposure.
Small-scale dramas, kids’ shows, and adapting popular formats were the projects everyone was talking about.
Telling stories that feel real to their culture, yet can connect with anyone, is what makes them work worldwide.
Meeting three times a year keeps the UK and China talking, creating opportunities that last beyond one event.
The theatre was packed for the Third Shanghai–London Screen Industry Forum. Between panels and workshops, filmmakers, producers and executives discussed ideas and business cards and it felt more than just a summit. British-Asian filmmakers were meeting and greeting the Chinese industry in an attempt to explore genuine possibilities of working in China’s film market.
UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios Instagram/ukchinafilm
What makes the forum important for British-Asian filmmakers?
For filmmakers whose films explore identity and belonging, this is a chance to show their work on an international stage, meet Chinese directors, talk co-productions and break cultural walls that normally feel unscalable. “It’s invaluable,” Abid Khan said after a panel, “because you can’t create globally if you don’t talk globally.”
And it’s not just established names. Young filmmakers were all around, pitching ideas and learning on the go. The forum gave them a chance to get noticed with mentoring, workshops, and live pitch sessions.
Which projects are catching international attention?
Micro-dramas are trending. Roy Lu of Linmon International says vertical content for apps is “where it’s at.” They’ve done US, Canada, Australia and next stop, Europe. YouTube is back in focus too, thanks to Rosemary Reed of POW TV Studios. Short attention spans and three-minute hits, she’s ready.
Children’s and sports shows are another hotspot. Jiella Esmat of 8Lions is developing Touch Grass, a football-themed children’s show. The logic is simple: sports and kids content unite families, like global glue.
Then there’s format adaptation. Lu also talked about Nothing But 30, a Chinese series with 7 billion streams. The plan is for an english version in London. Not a straight translation, but a cultural transformation. “‘30’ in London isn’t just words,” Lu says. “It’s a new story.”
Jason Zhang of Stellar Pictures says international audiences respond when culture isn’t just a background prop. Lanterns, flowers, rituals, they’re part of the plot. Cedric Behrel from Trinity CineAsia adds: you need context. Western audiences don’t know Journey to the West, so co-production helps them understand without diluting the story.
Economic sense matters too. Roy Lu stresses: pick your market, make it financially viable. Esmat likens ideal co-productions to a marriage: “Multicultural teams naturally think about what works globally and what doesn’t.”
The UK-China Film Collab’s Future Talent Programme is taking on eight students or recent grads this year. They’re getting the backstage access to international filmmaking that few ever see, including mentorship, festival organising and hands-on experience. Alumni are landing real jobs: accredited festival journalists, Beijing producers, curators at The National Gallery.
Adrian Wootton OBE reminded everyone: “We exist through partnerships, networks, and collaboration.” Yin Xin from Shanghai Media Group noted that tri-annual gathering: London, Shanghai, Hong Kong create an “intensive concentration” of ideas.
Actor-director Zhang Luyi said it best: cultural exchange isn’t telling your story to someone, it’s creating stories together.
The Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum is no longer just a talking shop. It’s a launchpad, a bridge. And for British-Asian filmmakers and emerging talent, it’s a chance to turn ideas into reality.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.