Mumbai, India — Television queen Devoleena Bhattacharjee, known for her iconic role as Gopi Bahu in Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, has finally broken her silence about her secret Muslim Nikkah marriage to long-time boyfriend Shanwaz Shaikh — and the truth she just revealed has left fans stunned!

What was once thought to be a low-key, private affair has now turned into a national conversation about love, faith, identity, and family drama — and Devoleena isn’t holding back anymore.

🧕💍 The Secret Nikkah That Shook Her Fanbase

In December 2022, photos of Devoleena in a traditional red outfit standing beside Shanwaz, dressed in a white kurta, surfaced online with the caption:

“And yes, finally… I am his forever.”

Speculation erupted instantly:

Did Devoleena convert to Islam?

Was this an interfaith marriage under pressure?

Where was her family?

Now, in a bold and emotional interview with a digital media outlet, Devoleena has finally set the record straight.

😱 “No One Knew What I Was Going Through” — Devoleena Speaks

Speaking with tears in her eyes, Devoleena shared:

“It wasn’t about religion. It was about love. Shanwaz was with me when no one else was. He was there when I was fighting for my mother’s life, when I broke down mentally, emotionally, financially. He stood like a wall.”

She then revealed the shocking truth behind why the Nikkah was done quietly:

“Some people in my life didn’t accept us. Some questioned why a Hindu girl would marry a Muslim man. But I didn’t care. I chose the one who chose me every single day — regardless of religion.”

💔 Family Drama, Religious Backlash & Social Media Hate

Devoleena also admitted that some of her family members initially disapproved of the union, and that she faced trolling, threats, and abuse online after her marriage became public.

“I was called everything from a traitor to a fake. They said I changed religion, sold my soul, betrayed my culture. But people forgot — I’m still Devoleena. My faith is mine. My love is mine.”

She clarified she did not convert to Islam, and that both families eventually agreed to a simple civil wedding followed by a symbolic Nikkah as per Shanwaz’s tradition.

👫 Who Is Shanwaz Shaikh?

Unlike most celebrity husbands, Shanwaz is not from showbiz. He is a gym trainer and fitness coach, someone Devoleena describes as “simple, grounded, and fiercely loyal.”

They met during her recovery from a back injury, where Shanwaz helped her through rehabilitation — and later, became her emotional support during her mother’s health crisis.

“He never asked for fame. He didn’t want publicity. He just wanted me to be okay,” she shared.

❤️ Fans React: “We Misjudged Her”

After her confession, fans across social media platforms have begun sending messages of support:

“We judged without knowing her struggle. Now we respect her even more.”
“Devoleena is the face of true, fearless love.”
“Religion doesn’t matter when the heart is right. Stay strong, Queen!”

Final Thoughts: Love Beyond Boundaries

Devoleena’s revelation isn’t just about a marriage. It’s about fighting stigma, breaking cultural walls, and choosing love despite judgment.

She ends her statement with a powerful line:

“People think Gopi Bahu was my strongest role. No — being Devoleena in real life is harder. And I’m proud of who I’ve become.”

Love wins. Always.
And Devoleena Bhattacharjee just reminded the world that sometimes, the bravest thing you can do — is love loudly, even when the world tells you to stay silent.

The Indian Air Force, Army and Navy have left no stone unturned in handling the missile and drone war attack done by Pakistan in the northwestern belt of the country. It was on May 10, 2025, when a ceasefire was agreed between India and Pakistan, and amid these tough situations, TV actress, Devoleena Bhattacharjee slammed a Pakistani user who was once upon a time her fan. The user told her to leave her husband, Shanwaz Shaikh, a trainer in the gym. The actress did not take this lying down.

Devoleena Bhattacharjee gives it back to a Pakistani user who told her to leave, Shanwaz Shaikh

There is tension looming over everyone’s heads, but the Indian Armed Forces are ensuring to protect everyone in the country by safeguarding our borders. Now, Devoleena, best known for her role as ‘Gopi Bahu’, took a dig at a Pakistani user who slammed her for spreading hatred and also gave a suggestion that Indian producers give her work. Amid Pakistan violating the ceasefire and the tensions rising between the two countries, the actress slammed the Pakistani naysayer and wrote:

“Haha…ab inko fikar hai mere kaam ki..jinki khudka koi bharosa nahi…Arey jakar apna desh aur terror camps sambhal. 2 din mein teri army international funds se bheeg maangne pe agayee hai..meri pati ki fikar mein apna khoon mat jala itna..Jo terrorists paal rakhe hai apne desh mein unko bharat sarkar k hawale kar de…bechare pareshan hogaye hai mujhse.”

The Pakistani user had tweeted to give Devoleena work as she became insane sitting at home. The user also shared that the actress was spreading hatred and that the Pakistani user regretted being her fan. Devoleena was called filthy, a gutter mouth and was told to leave her husband if she hated Islam.

When Devoleena Bhattacharjee revealed why she had a quiet wedding with Shanwaz Shaikh

Earlier, in an interview with the ETimes, Devoleena had opened up about having a quiet wedding with Shanwaz. She shared that her marriage was a sudden plan, and they decided to keep it hush-hush until a grand reception took place. She had also shared that Shanwaz felt awkward about revealing their marriage to the world, so they had kept it a secret for the longest time. Devoleena had said:

“I wanted it that way. The decision to get married was sudden. We had a court marriage, which was followed by a get-together at a resort in Lonavala in the evening. His family hosted a reception for us a day later. We decided to keep it a secret and talk about it only before our reception, which we are planning on hosting for our industry friends next month. Par waisa hua nahi, as I couldn’t stop myself from posting our pictures. It was such a beautiful moment. But Shonu (as she fondly calls Shanawaz) feels awkward about receiving attention and wanted to keep our wedding private.”

Devoleena further had said that Shanwaz, apart from being a trainer, also has a cable and internet business. They met at a gym in 2018 and dated for three years before getting married. They started hanging out and she was drawn to him and then decided to marry. The actress also shared that she did not know when she and Shanwaz fell in love with each other.

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