Sonakshi Sinha's Bhutan family trip with Zaheer Iqbal amid Kangana row
Synopsis
While Bollywood buzzes over Kangana Ranaut's thinly veiled dig at her and lingering backlash over her NEET protest support, Sonakshi Sinha chose Bhutan's mountains as her backdrop — sharing a quiet family moment with Zaheer Iqbal and his parents that stood in sharp contrast to the public storm around her.
Key Takeaways
Sonakshi Sinha and husband Zaheer Iqbal vacationed in Bhutan with his family, sharing pictures on 5 August .
Zaheer's sister and designer Sanam Ratansi posted the first carousel, captioned 'Peak Family time'.
The couple married on 23 June 2024 after nearly seven years together.
Sonakshi had publicly backed student protesters over the NEET paper leak , facing trolling after former minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned.
Actress Kangana Ranaut posted an indirect critique targeting Sonakshi's styling and political stance, without naming her.
Actress Sonakshi Sinha shared glimpses of a family vacation in Bhutan with husband Zaheer Iqbal and his family, offering a serene contrast to the public controversy surrounding her in recent weeks. The pictures, posted on 5 August, showed the couple and their extended family soaking in Bhutan's mountain landscapes, riverside settings, and lush green scenery.
What the Vacation Looked Like
Zaheer's sister and fashion designer Sanam Ratansi kicked off the social media documentation with a carousel of photographs captioned 'Peak Family time', accompanied by mountain and Bhutan flag emoticons. Sonakshi subsequently reshared those moments on her own account, while Zaheer added further snapshots from the trip.
The images capture the group beside rivers and amid cloudy mountain skies. One photograph shows Sonakshi, Sanam, and a young girl posing with victory signs. A family portrait features Sonakshi, Zaheer, and his parents set against Bhutan's tranquil natural backdrop. Zaheer's stories also included a riverside sequence, followed by a selfie from Sonakshi with Zaheer visible in the background.
About the Couple
Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal married on 23 June 2024 after nearly seven years together. The couple registered their marriage at Sonakshi's Mumbai residence in the presence of close friends and family, followed by a star-studded reception attended by members of the film fraternity.
The NEET Protest Controversy
The Bhutan trip comes amid heightened public attention on Sonakshi. The actress had been vocal in her support for student protesters demanding accountability over the NEET paper leak. After former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, she took to social media to express her support for the Gen Z protesters, drawing both praise and significant trolling for her visible enthusiasm in a video she posted.
Kangana Ranaut's Indirect Rebuke
Actress Kangana Ranaut, without naming Sonakshi directly, posted a sharp critique on social media. Ranaut wrote: 'There are many fake news that are doing rounds, this like of mine is also fake I never body shame anyone but I have noticed an actress who dresses and speaks like a pocket maar these days she wears half pants and ulta cap and talks like a jebkatra while passionately promoting gutterchap behaviour of protestors. I always feel how you dress in a relationship is a direct reflection of how you feel, dear fellow actress if your man is making you feel like a jebkatra I am sorry, you used to dress and speak so elegantly what happened to you? Opinions are yours but you can do better with that styling of yours if you need some help I am always there for you.'
The remarks were widely read as directed at Sonakshi, adding a layer of Bollywood friction to what was already a politically charged moment. The Bhutan holiday, by contrast, appears to mark a deliberate step back from the noise.
Point of View
A tactic that shifts debate away from the substance of the NEET controversy. Sonakshi's public support for student protesters was one of the more visible celebrity interventions in that episode; the backlash she received — including from a fellow actress — reflects how fraught that space remains for public figures in India. The holiday optics will not resolve the underlying tension, but they do reframe the narrative, at least briefly.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal go on vacation?
Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal vacationed in Bhutan with his family, including his parents and sister Sanam Ratansi. The couple shared photographs on social media on 5 August showing Bhutan's mountains, rivers, and landscapes.
When did Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal get married?
Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal married on 23 June 2024 after being in a relationship for nearly seven years. They registered their marriage at Sonakshi's Mumbai residence and later held a reception attended by the film fraternity.
Why was Sonakshi Sinha trolled recently?
Sonakshi Sinha was trolled for visibly expressing enthusiasm and support for student protesters who demanded accountability over the NEET paper leak. After former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, she posted a video on social media lauding the protesters, which drew significant criticism.
What did Kangana Ranaut say about Sonakshi Sinha?
Kangana Ranaut posted a comment on social media that, without naming Sonakshi directly, criticised an actress for her styling and for 'passionately promoting gutterchap behaviour of protestors.' She also linked the actress's change in appearance to her relationship, offering unsolicited styling advice. The remarks were widely interpreted as directed at Sonakshi.
Who is Sanam Ratansi?
Sanam Ratansi is Zaheer Iqbal's sister and a fashion designer. She was part of the Bhutan family vacation and posted the initial carousel of photographs from the trip, captioned 'Peak Family time'.
