Zaheer Iqbal Biography, Wikipedia, Parents, Wife, Career, Net Worth, Cars

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Zaheer Iqbal Early Life and Parents

Zaheer Iqbal Ratansi was born on December 10, 1988, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, into a wealthy Gujarati family. His father, Iqbal Ratansi, is a prominent jeweler and businessman with ventures in real estate and film equipment supply through companies like Stelmac Developers and Film Tools, Lights and Grip. Iqbal Ratansi shares a longstanding friendship with Salman Khan, which significantly influenced Zaheer’s entry into Bollywood. His mother, whose name remains undisclosed, is a homemaker. Zaheer has two siblings: an elder sister, Sanam Ratansi, a celebrity stylist who works with actresses like Aditi Rao Hydari, and a younger brother, Mohammad Ladha, a computer science graduate from Auckland University of Technology. Zaheer completed his schooling at Bombay Scottish School, where Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor was his senior and Salman Khan’s sister, Arpita Khan, was his classmate.

Growing up in an affluent household, Zaheer initially worked in his family’s construction business for six years after school. However, his passion for the arts, nurtured through school plays and exposure to Bollywood sets via Salman Khan, led him to pursue acting.

Zaheer Iqbal Wife and Personal Life

Zaheer Iqbal married Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha on June 23, 2024, in a civil ceremony under the Special Marriage Act at Sonakshi’s Mumbai residence. The couple, who began dating in 2017 after meeting at a party hosted by Salman Khan, kept their relationship relatively private but often shared affectionate posts on social media. Their wedding was an intimate affair attended by close family and friends, followed by a star-studded reception at Bastian, a popular Mumbai restaurant. Despite initial rumors of family disapproval due to their interfaith marriage (Zaheer is Muslim, Sonakshi is Hindu), both families have been supportive. Sonakshi has publicly addressed trolls, emphasizing their marriage is built on love and mutual respect. The couple celebrated their honeymoon in the Philippines and continues to share glimpses of their life, including trips to the United States and social gatherings with friends like Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal.

Zaheer Iqbal Career

Zaheer’s entry into Bollywood was facilitated by Salman Khan, whom he idolized since childhood. For two to three years, Zaheer worked as Salman’s assistant, visiting film sets to hone his dialogue delivery and reading scripts to understand storytelling. Salman encouraged him to attend acting and dancing workshops and undergo martial arts training to prepare for an acting career. In 2014, Zaheer served as an assistant director on Salman’s film Jai Ho, gaining behind-the-scenes experience.

His acting debut came in 2019 with Notebook, a romantic drama produced by Salman Khan Films. Zaheer played Kabir Kaul, an ex-army officer and Kashmiri teacher, opposite Pranutan Bahl. Critics praised his sincerity and vulnerability, with Bollywood Hungama noting, “Despite his tough look, he plays the vulnerable part very well and comes across as quite endearing.” The film earned him the Lions Gold Award for “Path Breaking Debutant of the Year” in 2020.

In 2022, Zaheer starred in Double XL as Zorawar Rahmani, a London-based line producer, alongside Sonakshi Sinha and Huma Qureshi. The comedy-drama about body positivity received mixed reviews, with some critics suggesting Zaheer’s performance echoed Salman’s 1990s style. That year, he also appeared in the music video “Blockbuster” with Ammy Virk and Asees Kaur, showcasing his charm. In 2024, Zaheer featured in Ruslaan and Tu Hai Meri Kiran, though these projects garnered less attention. Reports suggest he walked out of Salman’s Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali (later Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan) in 2022, though he was credited in some sources for a role.

Beyond acting, Zaheer is a talented guitarist, having started learning in 2020, and an avid sports enthusiast, participating in the Celebrity Cricket League and playing tennis. He aspires to explore regional cinema and filmmaking, including production.