At a time when his film Dhurandhar is doing well and keeping him in the spotlight, Arjun Rampal is also experiencing a calm but meaningful phase in his personal life. The actor has confirmed that he is engaged
to longtime partner Gabriella Demetriades and has spoken honestly about parenting, co-parenting, and how their family has grown together over the years.
Arjun Rampal on his daughters
Speaking on Rhea Chakraborty’s podcast, Rampal shared rare insights into raising his daughters, Mahikaa and Myra, while building a blended family without pressure or expectations. He called it emotional, evolving, and often difficult. Calling parenting “the hugest challenge in the world”, Rampal spoke about how the bond between parent and child changes with time.
“From little things that just want to be clutched onto you and are always hanging around, you become their everything. Then they get their little wings and start to fly out of your nest and experience life, friendships, traumas, all of that happens. You suddenly become more of an observer. They know you’ll always have their back, but it’s not easy. It’s a completely different relationship. You can’t say the pressure is on her or me. They are changing every day. They have conversations about boyfriends, friends, their own world, and you’re not really welcomed into that world.”
He also spoke about the relationship his daughters share with Gabriella, saying it developed naturally over time. “Mahikaa, Myra and Gabriella get along really, really well — touchwood. They can talk to her like a friend. I want to be that friend too, but I’m too old-fashioned.”
Gabriella added that no expectations were ever placed on the girls about how they should treat her. “They have been amazing through all of it. We never told them they had to respect me. They don’t have to. They just need to have a relationship with me, and if they like me, that’s great. There was no pressure. We let them settle into a rhythm on their own. They are fun, lovely girls, and I think I am the Gen Z.”
Arjun Rampal’s personal life
Arjun Rampal was earlier married to model Mehr Jesia. The couple separated in 2019 after 21 years of marriage and continue to co-parent their daughters. He met Gabriella Demetriades through mutual friends in 2018, and the two began dating a few months later. In 2019, Rampal and Gabriella welcomed their first son, Arik. Their second son, Ariv, was born in July 2023. While Rampal has now confirmed that the couple is engaged, he has kept details about future plans private.
