Love does not always arrive with a dramatic first meeting. Sometimes, it grows between two people who have known each other for years. For actor Nauheed Cyrusi and Rustom Contractor, it began in their childhood colony, with badminton matches, teasing and an unexpected first impression.Nauheed has spoken openly about their relationship and how a boy she once found irritating eventually became her husband. Their story is less about a grand romantic gesture and more about friendship, compatibility, trust and learning to grow together.
They grew up in the same colony
Nauheed and Rustom knew each other while growing up in the same colony. However, their seven-year age difference meant they did not have the same group of friends.Badminton became their common ground.Nauheed recalled that Rustom was athletic and extremely competitive on the court. Her first impression, however, was far from romantic. She jokingly admitted that when they played together, his competitive nature could get on her nerves.That changed once they started dating. Nauheed said Rustom’s kindness became the quality she found most attractive. She described him as quiet and introverted, while she was more outgoing.The contrast worked.
Facebook became their unexpected Cupid
Their relationship took another turn through Facebook.Nauheed recalled that Rustom was out of the country when the two began communicating more. When he returned, he made the first move.Their relationship seemed to develop through ordinary moments rather than carefully planned romantic experiences.After dating for almost three years, they got married in January 2017 in a private Parsi ceremony attended by close friends and family.
For Nauheed, love means respect
One of Nauheed’s strongest statements about their relationship came when she was asked what love meant to her.“Love for me… Respect. I think without respect, there is no love,” she said.She also described Rustom as someone who was not possessive. Nauheed admitted that she was the more possessive one, but said his attitude came from trust rather than a lack of affection.That distinction is important. Love can sometimes be confused with control, but trust gives a relationship room to breathe.Nauheed also said they did not sleep in separate bedrooms after disagreements. She joked that she had lost the energy to fight and would sometimes simply say, “You are right.”
Marriage changed their relationship too
Nauheed has acknowledged that relationships naturally change after marriage. Couples can begin taking one another for granted without even realising it.For her, staying connected means making a conscious effort to value the person beside you.She also believed their different professions helped the marriage. While she worked in the entertainment industry, Rustom had a completely different professional life. Instead of seeing that difference as a problem, she felt it gave them enough space from each other.Their relationship, therefore, was not built on doing everything together. It was built on enjoying each other’s company while still having separate worlds.
Their story later took an unexpected turn
The couple’s journey also included a painful chapter. In 2026, Nauheed revealed that she had experienced two miscarriages. She said the first pregnancy, in 2018, ended during the third month. A second pregnancy during the Covid period also ended in miscarriage.After the first loss, the couple adopted Jojo, a rescue cocker who Nauheed described as almost blind and almost deaf.She later said the experiences made them rethink their purpose in life and led them towards animal welfare.Their story, then, is not simply about how two people fell in love. It is about how a relationship changes as life changes around it.A badminton court brought Nauheed and Rustom together. Friendship turned into love, love became marriage, and difficult experiences eventually gave their partnership another meaning.