From families' opposition during their interfaith marriage, not asking Devoleena to convert to Islam to facing online hate: Devoleena Bhattacharjee and Shanwaz Shaikh get candid about their marriage, baby and life

Saath Nibhana Saathiya fame Devoleena Bhattacharjee, who is currently enjoying her motherhood phase recently appeared on Paras Chhabra's podcast with her husband Shanwaz Shaikh. The couple for the first time opened up about the challenges they faced during their interfaith marriage, including family resistance and online trolling. The couple revealed that Devoleena was never asked to convert to Islam, and they don’t impose any particular religion on each other. Devoleena expressed that when it comes to their son, she wants him to grow up with the freedom to choose his own path and beliefs. More than anything, she hopes to raise him to be a good human being. (Photo: Instagram)

Devoleena: We got married in 2022 and we met during the first lockdown. We had met actually long back but our relationship got stronger during lockdown. We met at a gym, he used to train at the gym. When I enrolled at the gym, he was about to leave, I requested him to stay back and train me. He has his won family businesses and gym was like part time. After a lot of request he continued for a year and we became good friends. (Photo: Instagram)

Devoleena: Then Bigg Boss 13 happened. We met before Bigg Boss and he had come to drop me. Then during Bigg Boss I suffered the back injury and during that phase he supported me. He was strongly there for me and slowly we started to bond. Ours was not a nibba nibbi love. We actually started to enjoy each other’s company. As I was in a relationship before so I knew what I wanted and what I didn’t. There was a point when I told him let’s get married. I asked him for marriage. We did court marriage. (Photo: Instagram)

Shanwaz: Yes, it took time to convince the family for our marriage because of our religions. It is very common in interfaith marriages. We had to convince a lot and we both spoke to each other’s families. Thoda time laga, kaafi upar neeche hui cheezein but eventually, they agreed. I feel when you have decided you want to spend your life together, you will do whatever it takes. Both the families had issues and were not comfortable due to our religions but as time passed and both the families started to meet, spend time together, things became comfortable. (Photo: Instagram)

Shanwaz: I liked her simplicity and down to earth nature. I have not seen an actor who is so humble and down to earth and respectful. When I first met her, I didn’t know she was an actor. I got to know from her masi. My mother initially did not believe and she thought I was lying. She was excited and she did not believe that we were getting married. She told me let Devoleena tell this to me.

Devoleena: Yes, my family had issues, even today interfaith marriages are not acceptable. My families also had concerns. Whether it was my mother or brother, almost everyone, the only person who supported openly was my maternal aunt and my bade papa. They supported a lot and eventually my mother also got convinced about my decision. Pehle woh shaadi mein nahi aarahi thi but later she joined us for the marriage. (Photo: Instagram)

Devoleena-Shanwaz: We never forced each other to follow any religion. Aisa tha he nahi ke tumhe mera follow karna padega yaa mujhe tumhara. When we met we knew that he’s a Muslim and I am a Hindu. We knew and that what we were getting into. Lot of people get into a relationship and then don’t get married because if these concerns, if feel then they should not get into such relationships. If you love someone from other religion, you should be open to take decisions. (Photo: Instagram)

Devoleena: I was very sure in my mind that main joh apna bachpan se culture follow karte aayi hoon wohi karungi. He was also very sure of his culture and tradition. So we never forced each other to follow any specific religion, ke tumhe Hindu hona padega yaa tumhe Musalman hona padega. Aisi koi kabhi baat he nahi hui. Birth, death and marriage is destined and it was in our destiny to be together. We applied for register marriage and in 2/3 months we were married. Shanawaz adds, "The best part our relationship was we never got into the relationship forcefully. It was very organic and kuch socha samjha plan nahi tha. We were destined to be together. We speak a lot about our religions." (Photo: Instagram)

Devoleena: I have never read Quran but there are many times when I read about something and I ask him. Then he explains, so we have a lot of discussions. There are similarities like the most important thing that no religion teaches to insult or disrespect other religion. He also tells me the same thing. We believe if any Guru, scholar teaches you to disrespect someone else’s religion, he is a red flag. Last year, I observed one Roza and it was a 27-28th day. He never asked me to fast and because of surgeries I can't fast. (Photo: Instagram)

Joh social media mein jhanda utha ke khade rehte hain na they must not be aware of even half of the things. Those who are not on social media, they absolutely have no problem. I have seen this that people who talk about religion too much on social media, they must not be aware of Gayatri mantra in real life. Usmein se 80 percent logon ne shayad Quran bhi nahi pura padha hoga. (Photo: Instagram)

The people who truly follow their religion they never have a problem with others. Religion teaches you how to lead your life in a disciplined way. Kya aapko life dusron ko troll karke jeena hai, dusron ko gaali deke jeena hai, yaa dharam ko neecha dikhake jeena hai. If you are learning this, then you are wrong. People who follow their religion in a right way will never have problem with others, they will be happy with their lives. Woh dusron ke dharam ke baare mein galat bolna yaa sochna nahi karenge. Our family respects each other’s religion. But at the end of the day we are also a family and have our issues but we all are trying to understand each other. We are accepting things and are putting in efforts. (Photo: Instagram)

Devoleena: Our baby will be Indian and I think we have a beautiful concept that if we can teach our baby good things from both the religions, it will be so amazing. Agar woh ek accha insaan banega, usse accha kuch nahi hosakta. Rest I feel everybody has the right to make their own choice. Right now, I feel why should I and Shan force our religions on him. (Photo: Instagram)

Once he is grownup and has then sensibility to understand these things then he can take his decision. Woh dono he religion ke beauty ko dekhne waala hai bachpan se. Main ghar par puja karti hoon, woh dekh raha hai, Shan namaz padhte hain, masjid jaate hain woh bhi dekh raha hai. After a point, I believe a person should be spiritual and then you connect to God directly. I strongly believe God is one, energy is one and his names are different. Ram ho, allah ho, Jesus ho, energy is one. So my baby can connect with anyone but he should be a good person first. (Photo: Instagram)