Because love has no boundaries!

1. Shashi Kapoor

Yesteryear actor, Shashi Kapoor, found love in British theatre actress, Jennifer Kendall. The two met in Kolkata in 1956 and fell for each other before tying the knot in 1958. Jennifer, who acted in some Hindi films, died of cancer in 1984.

2. Salman Khan

Salman and his love affairs! The actor has had a history of gorgeous girlfriends, yet remains unmarried till now! Khan, who has never really come out in open about his love relationships, introduced his Romanian girlfriend, Iulia Vantur, at his sister Arpita’s wedding last year, in 2014. The two had met in Dublin where Salman was shooting for Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger. Are they still together? Well, no clue!

3. Saif Ali Khan

After he divorced his first wife Amrita Singh and before he married his second wife Kareena Kapoor, Saif dated Rosa Catalano, a Swiss model born in Italy, for three years.

4. Ileana D’Cruz

It was heartbreaking for many when the reports of Bollywood hottie Ileana having an Australian boyfriend began doing the rounds. Andrew Kneebone, Ileana’s beau, is a photographer, and has been spotted with the actress at few Bollywood events.

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5. Kangana Ranaut

The Queen is single currently, or so we believe, as there are no reports of her having a man in her life as of now. But Kangana too has had her share of love affairs; one being with an English doctor, Nicholas Lafferty. She talked about her relationship with Nicholas publicly. The two were together for over a year before they called it quits in 2012.

6. Radhika Apte

Bollywood actress Radhika Apte is married to Benedict Taylor, a British musician. The duo met in 2011 in London and got married in 2012.

7. Aftab Shivdasani

After dating the London-based runway model, Nin Dusanj, for a couple of years, Aftab tied the sacred knot with her in June 2014.

8. Richa Chadda

Versatile young actress, Richa Chadda, has a French guy, Franck Gastambide, as her love interest. The two are on a romantic vacation in Los Angeles currently. Franck is a French actor and director.

9. Celina Jaitley

Celina Jaitely, who failed to make a mark in Bollywood after many efforts, finally settled down with Peter Haag, an Austrian businessman. They got married in 2011, and have twin boys.

10. Milind Soman

Hottie at 50, Milind Soman may have got romantically involved with yesteryear supermodel, Madhu Sapre, and B-Town actress, Shahana Goswami, at different points in time, but Milind got married to his Valley Of Flowers co-actress, Mylene Jampanoi, in 2006. The two divorced in 2009. Jampanoi is half-French and half-Chinese. Milind is single currently.

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Love Without Borders: 10 Bollywood Stars Who Married or Romanced Foreigners in Real Life

Bollywood, the land of epic romances and grand gestures, has often shown us that love can transcend any boundary—be it caste, class, or religion. But in real life, many of its biggest stars have proven that love also knows no geographical borders, finding their soulmates far across the seven seas.

From quiet, long-term marriages to whirlwind cross-continental romances, these actors and actresses have shown remarkable openness in embracing partners from different cultures and nationalities. These relationships are testaments to the universal language of the heart, often resulting in beautiful, blended families.

Here is a look at 10 prominent Bollywood celebrities who married or romanced foreigners, with a special focus on the two stars at No. 5 and No. 7 whose unconventional love stories continue to surprise and inspire us.

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The Global Romances of Bollywood

1. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas (American)

The union of Priyanka Chopra, a globally recognized Bollywood and Hollywood star, and American singer-songwriter Nick Jonas remains one of the most high-profile cross-cultural marriages in recent memory. The couple first made headlines after appearing together at the Met Gala, and their whirlwind romance culminated in a lavish, multi-day wedding ceremony in India that honored both Christian and Hindu traditions in December 2018. They embody a modern, blended family, successfully balancing their respective careers while raising their daughter, Malti Marie, whom they welcomed via surrogacy.

2. Preity Zinta and Gene Goodenough (American)

The dimpled actress, known for her bubbly on-screen persona, found her life partner in American financial analyst Gene Goodenough. The couple maintained a low profile before tying the knot in a private ceremony in Los Angeles in 2016, a decision that surprised many of her fans. Preity Zinta’s marriage is a classic example of finding love outside the industry spotlight, with the couple now balancing their lives between India and the United States and raising twins, whom they welcomed via surrogacy.

3. Radhika Apte and Benedict Taylor (British)

Known for her unconventional film choices, Radhika Apte’s private life is equally boundary-defying. She married London-based musician and composer Benedict Taylor in 2012. The two reportedly met while Radhika was studying contemporary dance in London. Their marriage is known for being extremely private, with the couple successfully navigating a long-distance relationship, which is often cited as a testament to their mutual understanding and respect.

4. Celina Jaitly and Peter Haag (Austrian)

Former Miss India and actress Celina Jaitly’s love story is often described as a fairytale. She married Austrian hotelier and businessman Peter Haag in a private ceremony in Austria in 2011 after meeting him in Dubai. The couple is settled in Dubai and are proud parents to twin boys, representing a happy, cross-cultural family life away from the constant Bollywood spotlight.

5. Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer Kendal (British) – The Surprise Pioneer

Our first surprising entry takes us back to the golden era of Indian cinema. Shashi Kapoor, a member of the legendary Kapoor family, defied convention in the late 1950s by falling in love with and marrying British theatre actress Jennifer Kendal. They met in Kolkata in 1956 while working for their respective theater groups and tied the knot two years later, in 1958.

The Surprise Factor: At a time when Bollywood marriages, especially among prominent families, were almost exclusively within the community or industry, a cross-cultural marriage was a truly groundbreaking and surprising move. Their partnership was not just romantic; it was a professional one that led to the foundation of the iconic Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai, making their union a foundational story for modern Indian theatre and cinema. Jennifer Kendal was instrumental in supporting his career and Indian theatre until her untimely death in 1984.

6. Shriya Saran and Andrei Koscheev (Russian)

The actress, who has worked predominantly in South Indian cinema but also in Bollywood films like Drishyam, kept her romantic life largely out of the public eye. She surprised fans when she married her long-time Russian boyfriend, Andrei Koscheev, an entrepreneur and tennis player, in a quiet ceremony in 2018. The couple’s hushed-up wedding and the subsequent revelation of their cross-border love story solidified her place on this list, proving that love can indeed bloom secretly and beautifully across continents.

7. Neena Gupta and Vivian Richards (West Indian/Antiguan) – The Surprise Non-Conformist

Neena Gupta’s story is arguably one of the most remarkable and surprising tales of love and non-conformity in Indian cinema history. The accomplished actress had a relationship with legendary West Indian cricketer Sir Vivian Richards in the late 1980s.

The Surprise Factor: The romance itself was unconventional, but the real surprise lay in Neena Gupta’s decision to have their daughter, Masaba Gupta, out of wedlock. This was a brave and defiant choice in conservative 1980s India, as Vivian Richards was already married at the time. Neena Gupta raised Masaba—now a celebrated fashion designer—as a single mother, making her a towering icon of independence and a celebrity whose private life truly broke all societal conventions, surprising the nation with her courage and conviction.

8. Saif Ali Khan and Rosa Catalano (Italian)

Before his marriage to Kareena Kapoor Khan, actor Saif Ali Khan was in a public relationship with Italian model Rosa Catalano. Rosa Catalano was spotted at several events with the actor, and their short-lived romance was widely covered by the media, especially since it followed his divorce from actress Amrita Singh. Although they did not marry, their high-profile relationship underscored the growing openness among Bollywood stars to date international partners.

9. Taapsee Pannu and Mathias Boe (Danish)

Critically acclaimed actress Taapsee Pannu, known for her roles in films like Pink and Thappad, is another star who chose to keep her long-term international romance quiet. In March 2024, she married her long-time boyfriend, Danish badminton player and Olympic medalist Mathias Boe, in a private ceremony in Udaipur. The pair had been dating for many years, and their marriage was a low-key affair, once again emphasizing a star’s ability to maintain a successful, cross-border relationship away from the media glare.

10. Milind Soman and Mylene Jampanoi (French/Chinese)

Before his marriage to Ankita Konwar, the fitness icon and model-actor Milind Soman was married to French actress and model Mylene Jampanoi. The two met on the sets of their film Valley of Flowers and tied the knot in 2006. Mylene, who is half French and half Chinese, and Milind were married for three years before divorcing in 2009. Their brief, passionate, cross-cultural marriage was a notable moment in the history of Bollywood’s international romances.

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Conclusion

The list of Bollywood celebrities who have looked beyond national boundaries for love is a powerful statement on modern romance. From the pioneering, foundational love of Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer Kendal to the bold independence of Neena Gupta, and the contemporary power couple status of Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, these stories confirm a beautiful truth: true love, much like cinema itself, is a global phenomenon that effortlessly transcends culture, language, and geography.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs

Q1: Which Bollywood celebrity is married to an American singer?

A: Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra is famously married to American singer, songwriter, and actor Nick Jonas. They had a lavish, multi-day wedding ceremony in India in December 2018.

Q2: Who is Shashi Kapoor’s foreign wife?

A: Shashi Kapoor was married to British theatre actress Jennifer Kendal. They met in 1956 and married in 1958, making their union one of the earliest high-profile cross-cultural marriages in the Indian film industry.

Q3: Which Bollywood actress has a child with West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards?

A: Actress Neena Gupta has a daughter, Masaba Gupta (now a successful fashion designer), with former West Indies cricketer Sir Vivian Richards.

Q4: Is Preity Zinta married to a foreigner?

A: Yes, Preity Zinta is married to Gene Goodenough, an American financial analyst. They got married in a private ceremony in Los Angeles in 2016.

Q5: Did Taapsee Pannu recently marry a foreign national?

A: Yes, Taapsee Pannu married her long-time boyfriend, Danish badminton player Mathias Boe, in a private ceremony in March 2024.