Nikki Tamboli clarified her relationship status with Jaan Kumar Sanu and Arbaz Patel, ahead of her much-awaited appearance in 'The 50'.
Nikki Tamboli is generating significant buzz as a confirmed contestant on the upcoming Indian reality show The 50, set to premiere on February 1, 2026, on JioHotstar and Colours TV. Some reports indicate that Nikki is one of the highest-paid participants of the season, underscoring her status as a major reality TV star. Notably, she is entering the show alongside her boyfriend, Arbaaz Patel. The duo has been dubbed a 'Sher-Sherni' pair, promising bold gameplay. Amid the buzz about their appearance in the mysterious show, Nikki's relationship status has come under scrutiny, and she recently clarified the speculation.
Dating rumours between Nikki Tamboli and Jaan Kumar Sanu primarily surfaced during their stint on the reality show, Bigg Boss 14 (2020). The rumours originated when the duo developed a close friendship early in the season, leading fans to ship them. Additionally, Jaan openly expressed his fondness for Nikki on national television. He even dedicated a romantic song by his father, singer Kumar Sanu, to her. While Jaan didn't hide his feelings, Nikki often teased him by calling him bhai-jaan. Fans loved their bickering as they remained inseparable for most parts of the show.
Nikki and Jaan's dating speculation was fueled by a controversial incident in which she accused him of kissing her on the cheek without her permission during a task. Notably, she later clarified that the kiss was not forceful but simply unwanted at the time. Jaan's mother, Rita Bhattacharya, addressed the rumours in interviews, noting that her son seemed infatuated with Nikki while they were in the Bigg Boss Season 14 house. The rumours have been circulating for years now, and recently she broke her silence about them.
In a January 2026 interview with Times Now, Nikki Tamboli strongly dismissed the ongoing dating speculations with Jaan Kumar Sanu. Nikki stated she is no longer in contact with Jaan and suggested the persistent rumours might be a "dirty PR stunt" orchestrated by Jaan's team to maintain relevance. The Bigg Boss Marathi 5's second runner-up further stated that she herself came across inquiries about her and Jaan's relationship status in one of her videos and was shocked to see the issue trending on Google. Her exact words were:
"What? I am not even in touch with him [Jaan]. Main toh uski shakal bhi bhul gayi hoon. Maybe he is playing some dirty PR stunt to be in the news. In fact, I also saw a comment on one of my videos stating if I am in a relationship with Jaan. Maybe that is why the question is trending on Google."
After clarifying that she is not romantically involved with Jaan Kumar Sanu, Nikki Tamboli publicly admitted her love for her current boyfriend, Arbaz Patel. She mentioned being "wholeheartedly in love" with him and called him "my man." Nikki shut down the rumours of two-timing Arbaz and Jaan by boldly asserting her feelings for the former. She was quoted by Times Now as:
"I am not in love with Jaan Kumar Sanu. I am very much in love with my man, Arbaz."
Nikki and Arbaz first met as contestants on Bigg Boss Marathi Season 5 in 2024. Nikki Tamboli described their connection as "love at first sight." They confirmed their relationship on Instagram in October 2024 with affectionate posts using the hashtags #Arnik and #Nikbaz. As of early 2026, the couple is reportedly living together in Mumbai. While fans frequently speculate about a wedding, both have stated that they are currently focused on their professional growth and are not rushing into marriage. Nikki and Arbaz are now set to appear as a power couple in the upcoming reality show, The 50, hosted by Farah Khan.
What are your thoughts on Nikki Tamboli's clarification regarding dating rumours with Jaan Kumar Sanu? Let us know.
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