Actor Priyamani faced significant backlash after announcing her engagement to her longtime boyfriend, Mustafa Raj, in 2016. The couple met at an IPL match in Bengaluru, but their relationship quickly became embroiled in controversy, mainly because of their different faiths. Some trolls even said that their children would become “terrorists”. This negativity persisted even after their marriage in 2017. In a recent interview, Priyamani mentioned that she continues to face trolling, with people questioning her religious beliefs.
In an interview with Filmfare, Priyamani recalled the intense backlash she received following their engagement announcement. The Family Guy actor shared she was excited to post a joint message with her family’s consent announcing her engagement on Facebook, only to be inundated with hateful comments. “People were texting me, saying: ‘Jihad, Muslim, your kids are going to be terrorists,'” she recalled.
The actor admitted that the experience took a toll on her. “It’s disheartening. Why target a single inter-caste couple? There are many top actors who have married outside their caste or religion. Not necessarily, they imbibed or adopted that religion. They just fell in love with someone irrespective of their religion. I don’t understand why there is so much hate around this.”
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Priyamani shared a recent incident where, after posting about Eid, someone accused her of converting to Islam. “How do you know if I’ve converted? It’s my decision,” she said. She emphasised that she informed Mustafa before their marriage that she wouldn’t convert. “I’m a born Hindu and will always follow my faith,” she explained, adding that they respect each other’s beliefs without pressure to conform.
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Reflecting on the reactions to her Eid post, Priyamani noted, “People questioned why I didn’t post for Navratri. I didn’t know how to respond, but I’m no longer affected by it. I choose not to pay attention to such negativity.”
Priyamani and Mustafa Raj tied the knot in 2017 after years of dating. Their love story began at the IPL tournament, where Priyamani served as a brand ambassador and Mustafa worked as an event manager. Mustafa proposed to her during the finale of the dance reality show “D for Dance,” where Priyamani was a judge. The couple registered their marriage in Bengaluru in 2017.
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