Who is Muzammil Ibrahim? From dating Deepika to award snub & Bollywood struggle; here’s all you missed

Muzammil Ibrahim, born on August 25, 1986, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, is an Indian actor, model, and trained martial artist who once seemed poised for a promising Bollywood career. Despite a striking screen presence and early acclaim, he eventually stepped away from mainstream cinema. Today, he is largely off the radar, known more for his past achievements and rare interviews than any recent work.

He first gained national attention after winning the Gladrags Manhunt India contest in 2003 at the age of 18, becoming one of the youngest winners in the pageant’s history. His modelling career quickly took off, and he became a familiar face in music videos, including the remix of Pardesiya alongside Rakhi Sawant and Lucky Ali’s Kabhi Aisa Lagta Hai. His image as a ‘poster boy’ earned him visibility in the early 2000s.

From proposal to parting: Muzammil on Deepika

Muzammil re-entered the spotlight after a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan surfaced online. In it, he shared deeply personal insights—ranging from his relationship with Deepika Padukone to his experience working under director Pooja Bhatt and feeling sidelined by the industry.

Opening up about his past with Deepika Padukone, Muzammil Ibrahim shared that they had been in a relationship for two years. He mentioned that their relationship started when Deepika had just moved to Mumbai. According to him, she was very confident at the time, partly because she was Prakash Padukone’s daughter and already well-known. He further revealed that it was Deepika who had proposed to him first. Muzammil said it was his first serious relationship, and they eventually parted ways because he decided to end it.

According to Muzammil, they stayed in touch after their breakup and would occasionally congratulate each other on their professional achievements. He mentioned that they used to talk sometimes before Deepika got married, but their communication stopped after her wedding to Ranveer Singh in 2018. He recalled their auto-rickshaw rides during the monsoon season as a simple and genuine period in their lives.

When debut dreams turned into nightmare for Muzammil

He also spoke about his challenging debut experience. Muzammil said he made his Bollywood debut in Pooja Bhatt’s 2007 thriller Dhokha, playing Inspector Zaid Ahmed Khan. Despite receiving a Filmfare nomination for Best Male Debut, he described the shoot as a traumatic experience. He claimed he “went through hell” during filming, suffered greatly, and was very young at the time. He said he fell into depression, had nightmares, and would pray every morning to Allah to protect him from Pooja Bhatt’s “extremely abusive” behaviour.

Muzammil added that Mahesh Bhatt was aware of the tensions on set but did little to intervene. He expressed disappointment at not being invited to the Filmfare Awards despite his nomination. He said Shah Rukh Khan had told him he deserved the award, but only Ranbir Kapoor was called on stage and eventually won for Saawariya. He further alleged that many Bollywood awards are not based on merit. Muzammil said he initially thought the awards were like the Oscars, but later realised that results are often predetermined. He admitted that on that night, he felt like crying.

Besides Dhokha, Muzammil appeared in Horn Ok Pleassss (2009) and Will You Marry Me? (2012). He returned in 2020 with a supporting role in the espionage thriller web series Special Ops. He is also recognised outside of films for his bravery. Muzammil was awarded the Jeevan Raksha Padak at age eight for saving a schoolmate from drowning. In 2008, he received the Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award for rescuing a tourist in Goa.

Muzammil’s journey highlights the struggles faced by many outsiders in Bollywood, where moments of promise are often clouded by missed opportunities and industry politics. His account provides a rare and candid insight into the personal challenges of navigating fame on the fringes.