Zaheer Iqbal’s Bio, Age, Movies, Family, Career, Net Worth & More

Zaheer Iqbal is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films. He made his Bollywood debut in 2019 and has slowly been carving a niche for himself

Known for his good looks, earnest performances, and connections with established names in Bollywood, Zaheer has been in the news for both his work and personal life.

His journey reflects the mix of privilege, hard work, mentorship, and struggle that many actors face.

In this biography, we’ll cover his early life, career, personal life, filmography, interesting facts, and frequently asked questions.

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Early Life and Background of Zaheer Iqbal

• Date of Birth: 10 December 1988¹

• Place of Birth: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

• Family Background: Zaheer was born into a non-filmy, business family. His father, Iqbal Ratansi, is a jeweller and businessman. He has siblings; one of them, his sister, works as a celebrity stylist / costume designer.

• Education: He did his schooling at Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai.²

Zaheer Iqbal’s Career

Beginning & Debut

Zaheer Iqbal did not begin as a film actor immediately. He earlier worked behind the scenes. For example, he worked as an assistant director in the 2014 film Jai Ho.

His launch into acting was backed by Salman Khan. The first major film role came with Notebook (2019), a romantic drama directed by Nitin Kakkar, produced under Salman Khan’s banner.

In Notebook, he played Kabir Kaul, an ex-army officer turned teacher from Kashmir, opposite Pranutan Bahl.

💔💔 https://t.co/dcs1iu2j8O

— Zaheer Iqbal 🔥 (@zaherolovefns) February 15, 2019

Subsequent Films & Roles

• In 2022, he played Zorawar Rahmani, a London-based line producer, in Double XL, opposite established actors like Sonakshi Sinha and Huma Qureshi. The film dealt with themes of body positivity and struggles in show business.

• He has had mixed reception. Some critics praised his sincerity and ability to portray vulnerability despite a ‘tough’ look. Others pointed out that in Double XL, he sometimes veers into impressions or familiar styles rather than fully new performances.

Training & Style

• To prepare for Notebook, Zaheer underwent workshops, including training under Hemant Kher and director Nitin Kakkar, focusing on body language, voice modulation, and how to behave in character. ³

• He had to adapt a more reserved style in Notebook. He mentioned that he had to tone down some of his real-life expressiveness to suit the character of Kabir.

Personal Life

• Zaheer was in a relationship with Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha for many years before they got married.

• The two tied the knot on 23 June 2024.

• They had kept their relationship private for a long time. Sonakshi has spoken about why she preferred to hide aspects of their life from the public and the media.

Public Image & Challenges

• One notable challenge Zaheer has spoken about is being judged for his appearance. Specifically, people had told him in the past that because his eyes are green, he would be typecast for villainous roles. He even tried using contact lenses to hide his eye color at some point. Eventually he embraced his uniqueness.

• He is often associated with Salman Khan because of his mentorship, his father’s friendship with Salman, and Salman helping him start his career. This gives him both advantages and also expectations.

Key Stats

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Strengths, Criticisms and Current Standing

Strengths

• Zaheer has the benefit of mentorship and connections (e.g. Salman Khan’s support), which help in navigating the industry.

• He is willing to work on his craft: training, workshops, adapting his body language and style.

• He has embraced his own unique features (green eyes etc.) rather than trying too hard to conform. This shows confidence and growing maturity.

Criticisms

• As with many new actors, he has had films that did not do well commercially or critically. For example, Double XL got mixed to negative reviews, and some critics felt Zaheer’s performance in that film was uneven in places.

• Some reviews suggest that his screen presence sometimes echoes earlier actors, rather than establishing a fully distinct style.

Current Standing and What’s Next

• Now married and more in the limelight because of that, Zaheer’s public profile has risen.

• He has potential to take on more challenging roles. So far, many roles are early career ones. If he picks varied scripts, he might grow significantly.

• Audiences will likely watch his next films to see whether he can break out of the “mentee / newcomer” tag and establish himself independently.

Interesting Facts

• Zaheer has spoken openly about being judged for having green eyes. At one time people told him he should only play villain roles because of that.

• He was trained in movement, voice, and posture for his debut role, which included adjusting many natural tendencies to suit the character.

• His father’s friendship with Salman Khan helped him get opportunities, but critics and audiences note that he still has to prove his own merit.

• He and Sonakshi Sinha kept their relationship private for years before their wedding.

 

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A post shared by Zaheer Iqbal (@iamzahero)

FAQ’s

1. How old is Zaheer Iqbal?

He was born on 10 December 1988. As of mid-2025, he is 36 years old.

2. Who is Zaheer Iqbal married to?

He is married to Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha. They tied the knot on 23 June 2024.

3. What was his debut film?

His debut acting film was Notebook (2019), where he starred opposite Pranutan Bahl.

4. Has he worked behind the camera?

Yes. Before his acting debut, he worked as an assistant director in Jai Ho (2014).

5. What are some notable films of Zaheer İqbal?

Notable films include Notebook (2019) and Double XL (2022).

6. What are criticisms or challenges he has faced?

He has been judged for his appearance (green eyes), typecast, and critical reception has sometimes been mixed. For instance, in Double XL, some critics felt he did not always deliver original style in performance.

7. How did he get a break in Bollywood?

His father is a jeweller, a childhood friend of Salman Khan. Salman spotted him, encouraged him, and under his banner Zaheer made his debut with Notebook.

8. Education and training?

He studied at Bombay Scottish School. He underwent workshops and acted under direction of Nitin Kakkar, Hemant Kher etc. Worked as assistant director earlier.

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1. en.wikipedia.org
2. hindustantimes
3. deccanchronicle