Marking 10 years of marriage, Harbhajan Singh and Geeta Basra balance career revivals, a production house, and parenthood, with the same grounding principles that have carried them this far.
By Nichola Marie
Eight years of courtship and a decade of being married — Harbhajan Singh and Geeta Basra continue to stand strong as partners in every sense. While former Indian cricketing great Harbhajan has seamlessly transitioned into new innings as commentator, mentor, and Rajya Sabha member, actor Geeta is making a thoughtful comeback to cinema with her soon-to-release emotionally resonant Punjabi family drama ‘Mehar’. Together, they have also stepped into the world of production with ‘Who’s The Boss?’, a talk show where they host celebrity couples with easy candour. Through it all, the couple remains deeply rooted in the basics — honesty, humility, gratitude, and shared values that anchor them even in the glare of fame.
Excerpts from the interview…
Nearly two decades of courtship and marriage together — how has the journey been for you both?
Geeta: It’s been incredible. When you find the right life partner, everything else seems to fall in place. In today’s world, it’s not easy — I see friends and even family struggling to find someone who truly matches them. For me, the blessing has been that I did. Of course, every marriage requires work. You can’t take it for granted. You need to put in the time, the affection, and create moments together — not just with the kids, but as a couple too.
Harbhajan: Marriage is like a roller coaster — full of ups and downs. Some people like roller coasters, some don’t. But once you choose to sit on it, you need to accept both the highs and the lows. For me, that’s the mindset. No relationship is automatically easy, but none is impossible either, if both partners are willing to make it right.
What are the qualities you admire most in each other?
Harbhajan: For me, honesty is everything. And Geeta has always been honest — she says it like it is. Without honesty, no relationship can stand. Whether it’s small decisions or the big ones in life, if you don’t have that honesty between you, the foundation is shaky. That’s the biggest thing that has worked for us. Geeta: Bhajji is an extremely caring person. He’s protective of me and the kids, always looking out for us, whether we’re travelling or just at home. He may be known as this fierce cricketer on the field, but at heart, he’s gentle, grounded, and family-first. That’s a side of him people don’t always see, but I cherish it.
Harbhajan, you’ve had such a multi-faceted journey — cricket, commentary, politics, entertainment. Did you ever imagine life taking this course?
Harbhajan: Honestly, no. Where I started from and where I am today — I can only be grateful. I believe God always has a better plan than we imagine for ourselves. You do your best, put in the hard work, but at the end of the day, it’s His plan that unfolds. Cricket gave me everything, but I’ve always felt that these things — fame, money, positions — are temporary. What matters is how you treat people, how grounded you stay.
We all run after material things at some point — cars, houses, luxuries. I did too. But over time, you realise they don’t define you. The real measure is: Are you still human at heart? Do you stay humble even when life puts you on a pedestal? That’s what I try to live by, and what we want to teach our kids too.
Geeta, your own journey has been one of persistence — from acting to balancing family and now returning as an actor-producer with new projects. How do you reflect on that?
Geeta: Acting was my dream from the time I was a little girl. To come from the UK to India, to learn a new language and culture, and to find my footing in the film industry was not easy. But I was determined. Over the years, I’ve learned to balance family and work, and I think women are natural multitaskers.
For me, the shift has also been generational. 15 years ago, I lost out on films because people didn’t want to cast a married woman. Today, thankfully, the industry has matured — what matters now is your talent, not your personal life. That gives women like me the chance to live our dreams while also being mothers and wives.
And you’re exploring new avenues too — especially your joint production venture.
Geeta: Yes! Being a producer is a new venture for me. I’m not just an actor now; I’m running our production house, which is something I started some years ago when one of the first creative ideas came to me, for the talk show ‘Who’s The Boss?’ It was on my mind preCovid but has come to fruition now with Bhajji’s full help and support – without him, this wouldn’t have been possible.
It’s our first production that I had envisioned, and for the first time, Bhajji and I come together professionally. We hosted couples like Rohit Sharma and Ritika, Jasprit Bumrah and Sanjana, Suryakumar Yadav and Devisha, and Suresh Raina and Priyanka. The response has been phenomenal — it went viral, and people loved seeing another side to these cricketers.
This is just our first season, and the ideas we have for the second are even more exciting — something audiences haven’t seen before. Since it’s our own production, the creative freedom lies entirely with us – it’s our baby. Unlike working with a channel where you’re tied to their vision, we have the liberty to shape it exactly the way we want.
As a producer, I now want to make more out-of-the-box content for audiences. These are exciting times for us! Harbhajan: Hosting with Geeta was so much fun. I’ve done commentary and plenty of cricket shows, but this was different. We were exploring the human side of people, not their stats. And working together as a couple — that was special.
Looking back, Harbhajan, what are the standout moments from your cricket career?
Harbhajan: Winning the 2011 World Cup will always be the pinnacle. Every cricketer dreams of lifting that trophy, and to do it for India, on home soil, was unforgettable. Another career-defining moment was the 2001 series against Australia, where I took 32 wickets and became the first Indian to take a hat-trick in Test cricket. That series changed my life — it made me Harbhajan Singh in the eyes of the world.
And how do you see cricket today compared to your playing days?
Harbhajan: Change is always good. When we played, the competition was tough, every team was strong. Today, India is not just strong, it’s dominant. With the IPL, the game has gone to a different level. Earlier, only 15–20 people had the chance to represent India. Now, hundreds get the opportunity to showcase their talent and also secure their lives financially. That’s a huge positive.
Geeta: Even as a wife, I’ve seen the change. Earlier, wives were barely allowed to travel with the team. Now, it’s normal to see families around. I only watched one India match in his entire career — the 2011 semi-final! Today, it’s very different.
You’ve also stepped into politics as a Rajya Sabha member. What has that experience been like?
Harbhajan: It’s a big responsibility. You’re given a platform where your voice can contribute to real change. I’ve never been a “political” person, but I felt this was a chance to speak for sportspersons, for infrastructure, for the larger good of society. If I can bring even a small change — in cricket or sports overall — then it’s worth it.
Geeta: We often discuss the issues he raises. Of course, his main focus is sports, but we also feel strongly about women’s welfare, children’s health, and the environment. As citizens, if we have the chance to make things better, we must.
How do you both balance being a high-profile couple with keeping things normal?
Harbhajan: By being the same person inside the house and outside. If you’re simple, life is simple. Always travel light — no extra luggage, no unnecessary bother. The same applies to life: Live for yourself, not for others. Let people think or say what they want; you focus on your own journey.
Geeta: Exactly. We’re both very real. We don’t live for the cameras or social media. Our home life is just like anyone else’s. The only difference is that people know our names.
You’ve both spoken about family and children. What values are most important for you to pass on?
Geeta: Humility, gratitude, and hard work. I sit with the kids for their studies, but I also teach them values — to keep their feet on the ground, to be kind, to never feel entitled. We don’t want to raise brats with silver spoons; we want them to feel the joy of their own achievements.
Harbhajan: I agree. I don’t want them to live off my name. Whatever they choose to do — cricket, medicine, anything — we’ll support them, but they must stand on their own feet. That’s real fulfillment.
How do you celebrate each other’s achievements?
Geeta: Oh, I’ve always loved celebrating his milestones! For his 300th wicket, I threw a surprise party. For his retirement, we had a small family gathering. And I’ve probably watched more cricket than any wife should — every ball of his matches sometimes! It’s what you do for the person you love — you even learn the game just to celebrate their victories. I remember watching every ball, every over, waiting for those wickets to fall, and sometimes getting emotional — asking, ‘Why aren’t you bowling your fourth over?’ I’ve stood by him through the highs and the lows, the victories as well as the tough days that not many get to see.
When he was announcing his retirement, I was so upset. I even asked him, ‘Are you sure you’re ready? I think you can still play’. But as a wife, eventually all you can do is say, ‘We are here to support you — whatever you decide’.
Harbhajan: And now, it’s my turn. I’m so proud of her comeback. It’s not easy in this industry, after kids, to re-establish yourself. But she’s doing it with grace, and I’ll do everything I can — school runs, house chores — so she has the space to pursue her dreams.
Finally, what dreams do you still share as a couple?
Geeta: Growth. Whether as individuals, in our careers, or as a family, as long as we’re growing, we’re happy.
Harbhajan: Happiness is the goal. Everything else is secondary. A happy team is a winning team.
