Shatrughan Sinha breaks silence on why he married Poonam despite strong affair with Reena Roy: ‘Insaan kabhi aise mod pe…’

Shatrughan Sinha and Poonam Sinha's marriage faced early challenges, especially when the veteran actor stayed in touch with rumored ex-girlfriend Reena Roy.

Actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha, known for his roles as an antagonist early in his career, rose to fame with the 1976 blockbuster Kalicharan. This film, directed by Subhash Ghai, showcased him as a heroic police inspector and marked the beginning of his success as a lead actor. Over the years, he starred in hit films like Vishwanath, Jaani Dushman, Zamaana Deewana, and Dostana, gaining immense popularity and a massive fan following. In his biography Anything But Khamosh, he humorously reflected on his charm, stating, “My problem wasn’t whom to marry but whom not to marry.”

Shatrughan Sinha’s alleged relationship with Reena Roy

Among the many women drawn to him, Shatrughan’s relationship with Reena Roy, his co-star in films like Kalicharan, Milap, Sangram, and Sat Sri Akal, was the most talked about. Their on-screen chemistry translated into a real-life romance widely accepted by their fans and industry peers.

When Shatrughan Sinha chose to marry Poonam over all the other women he dated

However, despite his strong bond with Reena, Shatrughan chose to marry Poonam Chandiramani, a fellow actor he first met years ago during a train journey and later worked with in the film Sabak. This decision surprised everyone. In an interview with Rajiv Shukla, Shatrughan explained, “Sometimes in life, you find yourself at a crossroads where making a decision is incredibly difficult. Once the decision is made, it may not always please everyone.”

He revealed that even after choosing Poonam, he was hesitant and afraid of losing his independence. In an interview with Stardust, Sinha said, “I was very scared. I was happy being a bachelor, but I had to decide. Until the last moment, I wanted to back out. The wedding was in Bombay, and I was in London. I caught the last flight and barely made it in time. Poonam was upset and thought I wouldn’t show up. She has been very good to me. If there are flaws in our marriage, they are my shortcomings, not hers.”

Their marriage faced early challenges, especially as Shatrughan stayed in touch with Reena. In his book, he admitted that it was a tough time. Poonam often cried, but she understood he was trying to move on from his past relationship. Sorting out their lives took time, as he also felt committed to Reena. Reflecting on that period, he wrote, “It was not easy. Reena questioned me, ‘Now that you’ve built a home with someone else, was I just a toy to be discarded?’ It was an uncomfortable and painful situation.”

Eventually, Reena moved on and married Pakistani cricketer Mohsin Khan in 1983, although their marriage ended in 1992. Reena chose to remain single afterward. Shatrughan and Poonam, meanwhile, focused on their family, welcoming twin sons Luv and Khush in 1983 and daughter Sonakshi in 1987.