Mumbai: The beginning of friendship sometimes leads to such a path, where the path of love is created automatically. Something similar happened with IPL star cricketer Shivam Dubey and his partner Anjum Khan. This pair of Hindu cricketer and Muslim actress crossed the age gap of seven years and became a part of each other’s life. Today this story is not only an example of love, but also raises a question in front of the society that can love really break every bond?

The journey from friendship to love

Shivam Dubey, who today takes the field with the bat in IPL 2025 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Anjum Khan met through a common friend. Gradually this friendship deepened and turned into love. Anjum, who has made her mark in the world of modeling and acting, worked in several TV serials and lent her voice as a voice artist in Bollywood films. On the other hand, Shivam was proving his talent on the cricket pitch. The two decided to get married in 2021, when Shivam was playing in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals.

Challenges of family and society

Was this journey easy? Not at all. Coming from Hindu and Muslim backgrounds, the couple had to face opposition from both sides. Anjum’s family initially did not approve of this relationship, while it took time to reach a consensus in Shivam’s house as well. But the power of love was such that eventually the families had to bow down. On July 16, 2021, the two got married in Mumbai according to Hindu and Muslim rituals. The pictures of this wedding went viral on social media, but at the same time a round of criticism also started. Some termed it as “love jihad”, while some questioned the inter-religious marriage. Nevertheless, Shivam and Anjum ignored these taunts and strengthened their relationship.

Shivam had written on social media at that time, “We loved each other with a love that was greater than love. And now this is where our forever begins.” This sentiment clearly shows their togetherness.

A happy family of two children

After marriage, the couple is now the proud parents of two children. Their son Ayan was born in 2022, and daughter Mehwish completed their family in January this year. Sharing the joy of the birth of the daughter on social media, Shivam wrote, “Our hearts grew bigger when we became a family of four.” This moment was not only a personal joy for them, but also a proof of the love that overcame every difficulty.

Shivam’s performance in IPL 2025

Shivam is currently playing for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025. The team has retained him for a whopping amount of Rs 12 crore, which is a symbol of trust in his talent. But in the four matches played so far this season, he did not live up to expectations. He scored 64 runs, with his best score being 19. Fans are expecting big scores from him, especially when he has been a part of the Indian team that won the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Shivam’s IPL journey has also been interesting. After making his debut with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2019, he played for Rajasthan Royals in 2021. Since 2022, he has been a part of CSK, where he played an important role in helping the team win the 2023 title with his explosive batting.

Message of victory of love

The story of Shivam and Anjum is not just a love story, but a message for the society. Be it the age difference or the wall of religion, love overcame every challenge. According to bird expert Dr. Sanjay Patil, “Like a crow, humans can also defeat difficulties with their intelligence and adaptability. This couple is a living example of this.” Though this quote is taken out of context, it truly describes their struggle and success.

What do people say?

The couple is still discussed on social media. One user wrote, “Shivam and Anjum have proved that neither religion nor age matters in love.” At the same time, some critics still term it wrong. But the couple kept their focus on their family and career amidst all this.

The way forward

This story of Shivam and Anjum is an inspiration not only for IPL fans, but for every person who is afraid of obstacles in love. Will their journey be more beautiful? Only time will tell, but for now the couple is happy in their little world, and this is their biggest victory.