Asim Riaz refutes Himanshi Khurana's claims, denies asking her to change religion

Actor Asim Riaz has denied asking anyone to change their religion after Himanshi Khurana's remarks on faith and identity went viral. The exchange has brought their past split over religious differences back into public discussion.Azim Riaz criticised Himanshi Khurana for using religion for attention. (Credit: Instagram/asimriaz77.official/iamhimanshikhurana)Actor Asim Riaz has refuted claims made by his ex-partner Himanshi Khurana regarding faith, spirituality, and religious differences in their past relationship. Denying that he ever asked her to convert, Asim criticised using religion for attention while addressing the viral controversy surrounding their breakup.Addressing the controversy in a long statement on Instagram, Asim 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).""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)," he added.Asim also appeared to take a swipe at actor Paras Chhabra for revisiting old personal matters. "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 added that digging through past relationships for gossip says more about the person digging than the subject. Without naming Paras, he suggested the host spend "a little less time discussing other people's lives and a little more time in the gym," mocking his appearance and calling out his reliance on sensationalism for views.On Paras Chhabra's podcast, Himanshi was asked about reports that she had considered converting to another religion while she was dating Asim. She said she would not describe it as 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.She mentioned that while there was nothing wrong in sharing those beliefs, she was not comfortable accepting them herself, adding, "He wanted me to understand it and accept it, but I was not willing."Recalling her experience from their past relationship, Himanshi shared how she felt conflicted about her faith and feared losing her religious identity. She revealed thinking she might have to leave her beliefs behind, recalling a moment where she felt compelled to "complete Char Dham and visit all the temples" before saying goodbye to her spiritual roots.Himanshi added that the inner turmoil reached a point where she even questioned whether she would be "cremated or buried," making her realise how deeply her faith was tied to her identity. Following the online debate, she downplayed the uproar on Instagram Stories, calling the media coverage a "storm in a teacup."The former couple officially announced their breakup on December 6, 2023, following nearly four years together. While Himanshi attributed the split to their "different religious beliefs," Asim later said that both had mutually agreed to sacrifice the relationship for their respective faiths.- EndsPublished By: Anurag BohraPublished On: Aug 24, 2026 01:56 IST