Shibani Dandekar On Being Called 'Gold-Digger' For Marrying Farhan Akhtar: 'The Truth Is That He...'

Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar tied the knot back in 2022 after dating for three years. Shibani was subjected to intense trolling for marrying Farhan and was even called a ‘gold-digger’. In a recent joint appearance on Rhea Chakraborty’s podcast, Shibani opened up about the hate she received for her marriage.

The actress said, “When I started my relationship with Farhan, it used to be love jihad and gold-digger. These were the two main things that people used to say to me. What am I supposed to do with that? I am not going to cry myself to sleep just because people are saying these things. I am not a gold-digger.”

Shibani Dandekar added, “The truth of the matter is he (Farhan Akhtar) comes from a Muslim home or a Muslim background, and I do come from a Hindu home, and we got married and we’re very happy with our marriage. That’s the reality of our situation. So you can say whatever you want about us. It is what it is.”

Farhan Akhtar also supported Shibani and said, “If the intention is to hurt, then why take it seriously? There are times when they’ll write, say a review of a film, and a film they may have or may not have liked. That review, we could learn something from it, if it’s written about the film. ‘These were the points in the film that were weak. These performances could’ve been better for this reason.’ You know what I mean?”

“If that was written, no matter how much effort you put into the film, or how protective you are of the film if the intention is well-meaning, you will read it with an open mind. But if the intention is to tear it down, because everyone is doing it for example… you can’t hide that stuff. The gaze is very obvious. The intent is, even if ‘I don’t like what you’re wearing in this photograph’ but if it’s written in a way that you feel, ‘Ya, maybe you’re right,’ you won’t have that reaction. It’s just the intention,” he said.

Previously, Farhan was married to Adhuna Bhabani for 15 years. The couple parted ways in 2016 and a few years later, Farhan found love again in Shibani.