Dipika Kakar, a celebrated figure in Indian television and the winner of Bigg Boss 12, marks her 39th birthday. Her life story is as compelling as any television serial, encompassing love, divorce, religious conversion, and a new chapter. Throughout her journey, she has confronted adversity with resilience and now embraces her roles as an actress, wife, and mother.
Before her rise to fame in the entertainment industry, Dipika was married to Raunak Samson, a pilot. They married in 2008, but their union ended in divorce just three years later, in 2011. This period was marked by significant challenges as she balanced the beginnings of her career with the upheaval in her personal life. Various speculations arose about the cause of the divorce, including rumors concerning her relationship with Shoaib Ibrahim, which she dismissed.
Reflecting on her divorce in an interview, Dipika acknowledged the difficulties of ending a relationship, even a love marriage. She also shared how her parents and Shoaib Ibrahim provided support during that trying time, despite the fact that they were only friends at the time. Dipika once said that she wanted to forget that difficult phase of her life.
Following her divorce, Dipika dedicated herself to her career. In 2011, she was cast as ‘Simar’ in ‘Sasural Simar Ka,’ a role that catapulted her to widespread recognition. She met Shoaib Ibrahim on the set of the show, where he played her on-screen husband, ‘Prem.’ Their friendship evolved into romance, and they kept their relationship private for several years before making it public in 2017.
The relationship between Dipika and Shoaib also generated considerable attention due to their differing religious backgrounds. Dipika made the decision to embrace Islam and marry Shoaib in 2018, adopting the name ‘Faiza.’ This choice sparked a wave of criticism and ‘love jihad’ allegations on social media. Despite this, both Dipika and Shoaib chose to ignore the negativity.
Following her marriage, Dipika discussed her religious conversion in an interview, stating that it was a personal decision. She was proud of her decision, which she made for herself and her happiness. She emphasized that her family supported her and that she did not intend to offend anyone.
Dipika’s professional and personal lives have both been targets of trolling. Following her marriage, she participated in ‘Bigg Boss 12’ and won, but some critics claimed that she had won due to favoritism. Even after stepping away from acting to prioritize her family, she received criticism online for supposedly acting as a ‘servant’ to her in-laws. Dipika and Shoaib responded to the trolls in a vlog.
Dipika has pointed out that if women consider their in-laws as parents, they should also be treated with respect and love. She has also noted that, like a daughter, she is cherished by her in-laws, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law. She questioned whether she would not give her father-in-law her bed if he returned home from the hospital.
After becoming a mother, Dipika continued to face criticism. She was accused of abandoning her daughter from her first marriage while expecting her son Ruhaan. She stated that she found the claims troubling, especially during her pregnancy. She questioned why people would make such claims about her son’s arrival, as there was no truth to them.