Rakhi Sawant, one of India’s most talked-about reality TV personalities, was born as Neeru Bheda on November 25, 1978, in Mumbai. She grew up in a modest Marathi Hindu family, where financial struggles were a part of daily life. To support her family, Rakhi started working as a background dancer in the late 1990s and accepted every opportunity that came her way.
After her mother remarried, she adopted her stepfather’s surname, Sawant. By the early 2000s, Rakhi had gained recognition through popular dance numbers in films such as Main Hoon Na and Masti, eventually becoming a familiar face in Bollywood and reality television.
When Did Rakhi Change Her Religion?
Around 2009, Rakhi and her mother converted from Hinduism to Christianity. She rarely spoke publicly about the decision and continued focusing on her acting and television career. Years later, her personal life once again became the centre of attention after she met Adil Khan Durrani from Mysuru.
Rakhi’s Marriages and Another Religious Conversion
In 2019, Rakhi claimed she had secretly married UK-based NRI Ritesh Singh. His identity remained a mystery until he appeared with her on Bigg Boss 15. Their relationship ended in early 2022.
Soon after, Rakhi began dating Adil Khan Durrani. To marry him, she converted to Islam and adopted the name Fatima. The couple married in June 2022 but revealed their marriage publicly only in January 2023, when Rakhi shared pictures from their nikah ceremony. Adil initially denied the marriage before later accepting it.
What Led to Their Separation?
Their relationship soon turned bitter. Rakhi later alleged that Adil had hidden important details about his background before marriage. She also accused him of domestic violence, cheating, financial fraud and mishandling her money.
On February 7, 2023, Rakhi filed an FIR against Adil at Oshiwara Police Station. He was arrested the same day and remained in judicial custody for several months. Rakhi also claimed that when she visited Adil’s family in Mysuru, they refused to accept their marriage because she was originally Hindu.
Where Does Their Case Stand Today?
In late 2025, the Bombay High Court quashed the FIRs filed by both Rakhi and Adil after they reached an amicable settlement, bringing their legal dispute to an end.
As of 2026, Rakhi Sawant has not publicly clarified her current religious identity. She has not confirmed whether she continues to follow Islam, has returned to Christianity, or has embraced Hinduism again. Meanwhile, she has remained active in the public eye, recently speaking about her admiration for Pakistan and revealing details about a potential suitor, Dodi Khan.