Himanshi Khurana has spoken candidly about the religious differences that contributed to the end of her relationship with Asim Riaz, revealing that questions about faith, identity and marriage eventually became deeply personal for her.
In a recent conversation with Paras Chhabra on his podcast, Himanshi did not explicitly name Asim while recounting the experience. However, her account closely reflected the religious differences she and Asim had publicly cited when announcing their separation in December 2023.
The former couple met and fell in love during Bigg Boss 13 and remained together for around four years before announcing their breakup.
Himanshi Khurana Says She Felt She Was ‘Betraying’ Her God
Himanshi explained that her partner had spoken to her about the positive aspects of his religion and wanted her to understand and accept them.
She stressed that there was no mistreatment involved and that the conflict was ultimately about what she personally could not reconcile with her own beliefs.
“He used to tell me the good things about his religion. Everyone tells you about those things; there is nothing wrong with that. They wanted me to understand it and accept it, but it was not acceptable to me. There was nothing wrong with him, he never misbehaved with me, but it was my own choice that I did not want to do something like that.”
For Himanshi, the possibility of changing her religious identity created an emotional conflict that went beyond the relationship itself.
“I felt like I was betraying my God,”
she recalled.
‘I Want to Visit Char Dham’
Himanshi said the thought of potentially losing the ability to practise the faith she had grown up with affected her deeply.
She described wanting to visit Char Dham and other pilgrimage sites before making any decision.
“I felt I wouldn’t be able to do this anymore. So I said I want to visit Char Dham and all the pilgrimages before that, because after that I would never be able to meet them. It was like I was saying goodbye.”
The experience made her question why choosing a relationship had begun to feel like saying goodbye to an important part of her identity.
“The fact that this question even arose was a big thing – why did I feel like I was saying goodbye to my God?”
Himanshi on Why Faith Could Not Simply Be Changed
Himanshi also reflected on the difference between formally adopting a religion and changing the beliefs that have developed through years of family, culture and personal experience.
She explained that even if she attempted to follow another faith, her existing spiritual identity would remain part of her.
“I said, if I bow my head before your God, automatically ‘Waheguru’ will come out of my mouth. That would also be a betrayal. And this is already inside me. How can I remove it?”
Her account suggested that the issue was not about declaring one religion superior to another. Instead, she described faith as something deeply connected to childhood, upbringing and personal identity.
‘Even If We Turn the Tables’
Himanshi acknowledged that the situation could have been difficult for both partners if their positions had been reversed.
“Even if we turn the tables, they wouldn’t be able to do it either. It’s not possible because we have been following these things since childhood. Whatever it is, it is inside us.”
For her, this reinforced the idea that religious identity cannot necessarily be treated as a simple condition attached to a relationship.
‘Will I Be Cremated or Buried?’
One of the most striking moments in Himanshi’s account came when she described the question that surfaced in her subconscious.
“Then a question came into my mind, will I be cremated or buried?”
She clarified that people should have the freedom to make their own choices, but said the question made her realise just how deeply the religious differences had affected her understanding of her future.
The question was not merely about a ceremony after death. For Himanshi, it represented a much larger concern about whether she would still be able to live and die according to the traditions and beliefs that had shaped her.
Her Pilgrimage Journey
As she struggled with these questions, Himanshi turned towards pilgrimage and spirituality.
She recalled undertaking the Kinnaur Kailash trek, which she described as one of the toughest journeys she had experienced.
According to Himanshi, her partner supported her decision at the time and was happy about the achievement.
“To be honest, my partner appreciated it at that time because it was the toughest journey. He was very happy.”
But reaching the destination became an intensely emotional moment for her.
“When I reached there, I cried. I cried so much.”
The experience appears to have helped her process feelings that she had been carrying throughout the relationship.
Himanshi and Asim’s Relationship
Himanshi and Asim met during Bigg Boss 13 and their relationship became one of the show’s most followed love stories.
Their relationship continued after the reality show, with the two frequently appearing together publicly and sharing moments of their personal lives with fans.
In December 2023, they announced that they had decided to part ways.
At the time, Himanshi said they were “sacrificing our love for our different religious beliefs.” Asim subsequently confirmed that the two had mutually decided to separate because of their respective faiths.
Himanshi’s latest account offers a more personal perspective on the emotional conflict behind that decision.
A Relationship That Changed How She Saw Herself
Himanshi’s account suggests that the end of the relationship was not simply about disagreements between two people.
The experience forced her to examine questions about faith, family, marriage, identity and the traditions she had inherited and practised throughout her life.
Rather than describing the experience as a rejection of another religion, she framed it as a realisation that her own faith had become inseparable from who she was.
For Himanshi, the relationship ultimately led to a difficult conclusion: love could be deeply meaningful, but she did not want to feel that choosing it required her to abandon a fundamental part of herself.
