Sanjeeda Shaikh: Behind The Controversies That Shattered Her Perfect Image

Whenever controversies in the entertainment world are discussed, one name that unfailingly comes up is Sanjeeda Shaikh. There was a time when her life seemed perfect – smooth, stable, and inspiring. Or perhaps, she was simply pretending that everything was fine. But what really happened that turned her fairytale life into a series of public scandals? Why did her closest friends Mouni Roy and Aamna Sharif unfollow her suddenly? Why did she never allow her daughter to meet her father after their separation? Let’s take a deep dive into Sanjeeda Shaikh’s turbulent personal and professional journey.

Sanjiida Shaikh was born on December 20, 1984, in Kuwait, though her family originally hails from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. She entered the television industry at just 19, taking up multiple small roles before landing her first major break in 2006 with the serial Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka, where she played the lead role and gained significant recognition. In 2008, she starred in Kya Dill Mein Hai on 9X TV, where she met actor Aamir Ali, who would later become her husband. Their story was one of love at first sight. Initially friends, they soon fell deeply in love.

The same year, Sanjeeda and Aamir participated in Nach Baliye Season 3, a couple’s dance reality show, and emerged as winners. Their chemistry won hearts nationwide, strengthening their bond publicly and personally. Between 2008 to 2010, the couple was celebrated as an example of a fairytale romance, making their later divorce even more shocking. On March 2, 2012, they tied the knot in the presence of close family. Surprisingly, after their marriage, Sanjeeda disappeared from the industry for two years. No one knew if it was due to lack of opportunities or personal decisions. However, she made a strong comeback in 2014 with Ek Hasina Thi, where she played a bold and empowered woman seeking revenge for her sister’s death from a powerful and rich family. The show was widely loved for its strong female lead, breaking stereotypes of the helpless daughter-in-law narratives dominating TV at that time.

Few people know that while working in television, Sanjeeda was simultaneously auditioning for Bollywood films. She always dreamt of working in movies but was rejected repeatedly for being “too pretty for the role.” This highlights the harsh casting biases in Bollywood where outsiders struggle regardless of talent or looks, especially if the role demanded a girl from slums or with rugged features. It is an entirely different discussion on its own.

Life moved forward and in 2020, Sanjeeda and Aamir welcomed their daughter Ayra Ali through surrogacy. But this joyous chapter marked the beginning of her darkest controversies. Just four months after Ayra’s birth, the couple decided to separate without revealing any reason publicly. Rumours began circulating about infidelity and growing distances. In December 2023, Sanjeeda and actor Harshvardhan Rane were spotted posting jungle safari pictures at the same time, fuelling speculations that she had cheated on Aamir with Harshvardhan. A Pinkvilla article even claimed that Sanjeeda and Harshvardhan allegedly started dating on the sets of their movie Taish in 2020. Many believed that this affair was the reason for their separation, although no confirmations ever came from either side.

On the other hand, some said Aamir had a regressive mindset, never supporting Sanjeeda’s transition from television to OTT and movies. It was also alleged that he often stopped her from wearing revealing clothes. However, their old pictures reflect otherwise as Sanjeeda always wore what she wanted even during their marriage. Their relationship was not a rushed decision either, as they dated for five to six years before marrying, so she would have known his mindset long before.

During promotions for Heeramandi, Sanjeeda gave some statements that seemed indirectly aimed at a partner. She said, “There are many men and partners who demotivate you and tell you that you can’t do anything, that it’s not your cup of tea.” In another interview, she shared that she was very happy about the divorce, feeling proud of the decision she made for herself and her daughter.

One major controversy that angered the public was Sanjeeda allegedly preventing Aamir from meeting their daughter Ayra. In an interview with ET Times, Aamir said he did not want to play the victim card as people tend to blame men in every situation, but he wished the best for his daughter. This revelation led to Sanjeeda being trolled badly online, with people calling her a “selfish bad mother.” She never explained why she kept Ayra away from her father, fuelling further negativity against her.

Another controversy involved her dressing style. Post-divorce, people began targeting Sanjeeda for wearing revealing clothes, calling her Instagram a “thirst trap,” a derogatory term. However, it is her body and choice. She is already successful and does not need to “trap” anyone for validation. The constant policing of women’s dressing sense remains a never-ending debate.

Further, her sister-in-law filed a domestic violence case against Sanjeeda and her family. Upon investigation, it was found to be a false complaint to defame and extort money. Despite being proven innocent, this controversy cost Sanjeeda several projects.

The final controversy was about her friendships. There was a time when Sanjeeda, Mouni Roy, and Aamna Sharif were best friends. After Sanjeeda’s divorce, people speculated that Mouni and Aamna chose Aamir’s side and stopped talking to her. In reality, their friendship had broken much earlier, and no one knows the real reasons.

When two people get divorced, they do not go around telling everyone what actually happened or why they chose to part ways. Often, even close family members remain unaware of the true reasons. Hence, blaming Sanjeeda solely is unfair. However, if she truly had an extramarital affair, that is undeniably wrong. On the other side, during research, some sources claimed Aamir himself accepted being arrogant and rude to people in the past, with rumours of him cheating on Sanjeeda through multiple one-night stands, which left her frustrated. Again, these remain unverified rumours.

In the end, Sanjeeda Shaikh’s life reflects the harsh reality of fame, where every decision becomes public debate. As outsiders, we may never know the complete truth. All we can do is watch, comment, and move on, while their lives remain under constant scrutiny.