Asim Riaz Denies Asking Himanshi Khurana to Change Religion
Actor-model Asim Riaz has publicly denied ever asking his ex-girlfriend Himanshi Khurana to change her religion, breaking his silence days after she discussed their relationship and religious differences on a podcast hosted by Paras Chhabra.
In a lengthy Instagram post on Sunday, Riaz wrote that he had never asked anyone to change their religion, calling religion a "deeply sensitive subject" that should not be turned into a public controversy. His response came after Khurana spoke about their relationship and different faiths during an appearance on Chhabra's podcast.
"I never asked anyone to change their religion. Not once," Riaz's post read, as quoted by multiple outlets. He added that he was the one who pushed her towards fitness, commenting on her shape and saying, "You've been in this shape only after meeting me, before that, everyone knew how you looked."
Riaz also accused Khurana of using religion as a weapon, writing, "Turning something so personal into a reason for people to hate me is immature and only shows how low you're willing to go for attention." His statement, reported by ANI, Free Press Journal, India Today, Livemint, Lokmat Times, Times Now, and The Times of India, included remarks about his career and finances, asserting that he never needed anyone to build his career or claim credit for his success.
"Who has more money and who has less? Well, if you really want to know, the bank statements can settle that. But money was never the measure of character," he added, according to several of these reports.
The Podcast and Himanshi's Response
The controversy began after Khurana appeared on Paras Chhabra's podcast, where she discussed reports that she had considered changing her religion while dating Riaz. Without naming him, she clarified that she would not call the situation "conversion." Instead, she explained that her then-boyfriend shared the good things about his religion and wanted her to understand and accept them.
Khurana described feeling that accepting another religion would betray her faith, saying she considered completing Char Dham and visiting temples as an emotional goodbye. She also recalled questioning whether she would be "cremated or buried" if she accepted another faith, a point reported by India Today, Times Now, and Lokmat Times.
In her podcast appearance, Khurana said her then-boyfriend never misbehaved with her and that it was her own choice not to accept another religion. She later downplayed the uproar on Instagram Stories, calling the media coverage a "storm in a teacup," as reported by India Today.
The Dig at Paras Chhabra
Riaz also took aim at Paras Chhabra, who hosted the podcast, without naming him directly. He mocked Chhabra's appearance and reliance on sensationalism, writing, "And to the man behind the microphone, sitting there with his stomach hanging out like a pig while making gossip his profession, brother, respectfully, I'd suggest spending a little less time discussing other people's lives and a little more time in the gym."
This comment was widely quoted across several outlets, including Free Press Journal, Lokmat Times, and The Times of India, with some headlines focusing on the provocative language.
Relationship Timeline
Riaz and Khurana met during Bigg Boss 13 and were in a relationship for around four years. At the time they met, Khurana was reportedly in a nine-year relationship with Chow, as noted by The Times of India. The couple separated in 2023, with the breakup announced on December 6, 2023, citing religious differences. Riaz has since said that both he and Khurana mutually agreed to sacrifice the relationship for their respective faiths, a claim reported by a single outlet.