- Asim Riaz denied asking Himanshi Khurana to change her religion during their relationship
- Asim criticized using religion as a tool for public disputes and attention seeking
- He refuted financial claims and said bank statements could clarify monetary matters
Asim Riaz has reacted to the ongoing discussion surrounding his past relationship with Himanshi Khurana. He rejected claims that he ever asked the actress to change her religion.
His statement comes after Himanshi spoke about faith and spirituality during a recent podcast appearance, where she recalled feeling conflicted about her religious identity while dating Asim.
What's Happening
Taking to Instagram, Asim denied ever asking Himanshi to convert and said religion should not be brought into public disputes for attention.
He wrote, "I never asked anyone to change their religion. Not once. Matter of fact, I was the one who pushed you towards fitness. You've been in this shape only after meeting me, before that, everyone knew how you looked. So please, don't use religion as a weapon. It's a deeply sensitive subject, and turning something so personal into a reason for people to hate me is immature and only shows how low you're willing to go for attention (sic)."
He also addressed comments surrounding their respective careers and finances. Asim said he did not need anyone else to establish his career and suggested that financial claims could be settled through bank statements.
He added, "And when it came to my career, I never needed anyone to build it for me or claim credit for what they never contributed. Who has more money and who has less? Well, if you really want to know, the bank statements can settle that. But money was never the measure of character. Character is how far you're willing to fall when you're desperate for attention, relevance, or a few more views (sic),"
Asim Riaz Slams Paras Chhabra
The actor also appeared to respond to Paras Chhabra, who discussed Asim and Himanshi's past relationship on his podcast.
Without directly naming him, Asim questioned the decision to revisit old personal matters years after the relationship ended.
"Years later, digging through old relationship and personal life just to create more gossip says more about the person digging than the person being talked about (sic)," he wrote.
Asim went on to take another apparent dig at the podcast host, suggesting that he spend less time discussing other people's personal lives and more time at the gym. He also criticised what he described as an attempt to generate views through sensational discussions.
What Did Himanshi Say?
The controversy began after Himanshi appeared on Paras Chhabra's podcast, where she was asked about reports that she had considered converting to another religion during her relationship with Asim.
Clarifying her position, Himanshi said she did not consider the situation a conversion. "I would not call it conversion, but he was telling me the good things about his religion and explaining everything. That is a good thing," she said.
Himanshi explained that although she had no issue with Asim sharing his beliefs, she was not comfortable accepting them herself. "He wanted me to understand it and accept it, but I was not willing," she added.
Speaking about her state of mind at the time, Himanshi recalled experiencing an internal conflict over her faith. She said she feared losing her religious identity and remembered thinking that she should "complete Char Dham and visit all the temples" before leaving her spiritual roots behind.
She also recalled questioning whether she would be "cremated or buried," describing it as a moment that made her realise how closely her faith was connected to her identity.
Following the discussion and the subsequent online debate, Himanshi addressed the media coverage on Instagram Stories and described the controversy as a "storm in a teacup."
Asim And Himanshi's Relationship
Asim and Himanshi had announced their separation on December 6, 2023, after being in a relationship for nearly four years. At the time, Himanshi cited their "different religious beliefs" as the reason for their split.
Asim later said that they had mutually decided to sacrifice their relationship for their respective faiths.
