Why Is Virat Kohli Living in London? Privacy and Family Life Behind the Move

Why Is Virat Kohli Living in London? Privacy and Family Life Behind the Move

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have long been among India’s most closely followed celebrity couples. From cricket grounds and film events to their family outings, almost every public appearance attracts considerable attention. Their decision to make London their home has therefore generated plenty of curiosity, with many people wondering what prompted the couple to move away from India.

A recent discussion involving Dr Shriram Nene, husband of actress Madhuri Dixit, has once again brought the subject into focus. According to Nene, a conversation he had with Anushka Sharma offered an insight into the thinking behind the couple’s decision. The key issue, he suggested, was not simply a preference for living abroad, but the difficulty of enjoying a normal private life while being constantly watched in India.

Constant public attention became a concern

Kohli is one of the biggest sporting personalities in India, while Anushka is an established Bollywood actress. Together, their fame makes them a particularly high-profile family. Their professional achievements, personal milestones and even casual outings frequently become subjects of public discussion.

Dr Nene recalled that Anushka had spoken about how difficult it was for the couple to fully enjoy their success because of the level of attention surrounding them. For people who live most of their lives in the public eye, ordinary activities can become news, making privacy considerably harder to maintain.

That appears to have played an important role in the family’s thinking about relocating to London. Rather than viewing the move purely as a lifestyle upgrade, the couple reportedly wanted an environment where they could experience more personal space and a quieter routine.

A quieter childhood for their children

Family life is another important factor associated with the move. Kohli and Anushka are parents to daughter Vamika and son Akaay, and protecting their children from excessive public attention has been an important consideration for the couple.

The family has generally maintained strong boundaries around their children’s privacy. Their appearances together are relatively limited, and the couple has been careful about how much of their personal lives they share publicly.

London, in this context, offers the possibility of allowing the children to grow up with greater anonymity. Dr Nene’s comments indicated that the couple wanted their children to experience a more normal upbringing rather than constantly being surrounded by the attention that comes with having two extremely famous parents.

London has become a familiar setting for the family

The family’s presence in London has also been visible through occasional public sightings. Kohli and Anushka have been spotted during relaxed outings with their children, giving fans glimpses of their life away from the intense spotlight surrounding their professional careers.

In one such outing reported earlier this year, Kohli was seen with his son Akaay while Anushka accompanied them. The informal nature of such appearances highlighted a different side of the cricketer, away from the stadium environment and the enormous attention associated with his cricket career.

The couple’s London life has consequently attracted attention precisely because it appears more private and low-key than their lives in India.

It is about lifestyle, not just cricket

Kohli’s connection with England and London is not new. His professional career has taken him to the UK on several occasions, including his earlier involvement with English cricket. However, the current discussion surrounding his London base is primarily connected to his family’s lifestyle rather than a cricketing requirement.

Kohli continues to represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, and his London residence has even become a subject of light-hearted cricket-related discussions. During IPL 2026, social media users joked about whether his London base could make him an “overseas player”, prompting Kohli to respond humorously to the chatter.

This makes it clear that living in London does not mean Kohli has stepped away from Indian cricket or his professional commitments in India.

A search for normalcy

For celebrities of Kohli and Anushka’s stature, privacy can be difficult to find. Their move appears to reflect a broader desire to separate their professional success from their personal lives.

The couple can continue their respective careers while creating a more private family environment away from the constant attention they experience in India. Their decision also reflects a priority that many high-profile families face: giving children space to grow without having every family moment turned into public content.

For now, the explanation emerging from Dr Nene’s recollection is that privacy, peace and a more normal family life are central reasons behind Kohli and Anushka’s London base. Rather than being simply about luxury or convenience, the move appears closely tied to their wish to enjoy their achievements while keeping their personal world protected.