Bollywood Actress Soha Ali Khan has opened up about her mother, Veteran Star Sharmila Tagore’s initial reservations when she decided to move in with Actor Kunal Kemmu before marriage, revealing that the legendary actress feared it would reduce the chances of the couple ever tying the knot. Speaking on Sonakshi Sinha’s podcast All About Her alongside relationship expert Kasturi Mahanta, Soha recounted that after she and Kunal had lived together for two years, Sharmila Tagore candidly warned her, “Now he’s not going to marry you. You’ve taken away all the interest.” The Rang De Basanti star admitted the comment made her momentarily doubt the relationship’s future.

Soha and Kunal, who began dating in 2008 after meeting on the sets of 99 and Dhoondte Reh Jaoge, were together for seven years before finally marrying in an intimate ceremony in Mumbai on January 25, 2015. The couple welcomed their daughter Inaaya Naumi Kemmu in 2017. Reflecting on the period, Soha said neither she nor Kunal was initially “wrapped up in the idea of marriage”, with Kunal even stating it “wasn’t that important”. However, Sharmila Tagore’s gentle but persistent nudging—that “men need a little push, otherwise they won’t ask”—eventually played a key role in the decision. Soha laughed that since marriage “wasn’t such a big deal” to them, they thought they “might as well” go ahead.

The revelation echoes an earlier interview Soha gave to The Hollywood Reporter, where she shared another piece of timeless advice from her mother on sustaining long-term relationships. Sharmila Tagore had told her that “women should take care of the man’s ego, and a man should take care of a woman’s emotions,” adding that friends are essential to avoid placing excessive pressure on a partner. While acknowledging that modern audiences might argue both genders possess egos and emotions, Soha said the guidance has “stood her in good stead” throughout her decade-long marriage.

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Sharmila Tagore, known for her progressive choices both on and off screen—including her iconic bikini scene in 1967’s An Evening in Paris—has often spoken openly about love and relationships. Yet her traditional concern about live-in arrangements reducing the incentive for marriage highlights the generational differences even within one of Bollywood’s most liberal families. Soha’s candid recounting has resonated widely, with many praising the mother-daughter duo’s honest communication.

The conversation has sparked fresh discussions on evolving relationship dynamics in Indian society, where live-in relationships are increasingly common among urban couples but still meet resistance from older generations. For Soha and Kunal, what began as a casual “might as well” decision has blossomed into a strong partnership of over 16 years, proving that sometimes a gentle maternal nudge—and a dash of humour—is all it takes to turn cohabitation into a lifelong commitment.

As fans continue to celebrate the couple’s relatable love story, Soha’s podcast appearance serves as a reminder that even in celebrity households, the path to the altar can involve the same doubts, debates, and delightful family interventions as anywhere else.

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