Bollywood and romance go hand in hand. While many actors have fallen in love on the sets and married their respective spouses for a happily ever after, rumors of link ups and extra-marital affairs are known to have put many marriages under duress. While some ended with heartbreak, others weathered the storm and emerged stronger. Here is a look at 10 such marriages that infidelity failed to break.
Raj Kapoor and Krishna Kapoor
The fabled romance between the showman of Indian cinema and Nargis is one of Bollywood’s oldest. Rumors had it that the actors, who worked in several films like Awaara, Chori Chori, Barsaat, Shree 420 and Aag, were in a relationship. However, their love was doomed as Raj Kapoor was already married to Krishna Raj Kapoor.
The failed love affair left Nargis heartbroken and she even contemplated suicide. But love came back in her life in the form of Sunil Dutt, whom she met on the sets of Mother India. Cupid struck when Dutt saved her from a fire and the two got married even before the film released.
Neither of the couples ever spoke about the affair. In a 2003 interview, Sunil Dutt had said: “I never knew there was a romance. The only thing I knew was that she came into my life. I was not concerned about her past.”
Sanjay Khan and Zeenat Aman
The handsome Sanjay Khan was happily married to childhood sweetheart Zarine Khan, but the marriage hit rock bottom when Sanjay fell for his Abdulla co-star on the sets on the film.
If rumors are to be believed, the couple was said to have secretly married and living together. But this torrid love affair ended on a violent note as a determined Zarine put her foot down.
Sanjay and Zarine are alleged to have hit Zeenat during an altercation at a five-star hotel, leaving the actress with a damaged eye.
Opening up about his relationship with Zeenat On Rendevouz With Simi Garewal, Sanjay said, “I don’t think I would have been the man I am, if she was not the woman she is. I was taken for granted by somebody else. There was no such thing from my side. There was no betrayal of trust.”
Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bhaduri
Undoubtedly, Bollywood’s most talked about marriage hit a rough patch when Rekha stormed into the lovely couple’s lives. Rumors of an off-screen romance started doing the rounds after the angry young man of Hindi film industry worked with Rekha in a series of films including, Mr Natwarlal, Do Anjaane and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar in the 70s, and their sizzling on-screen chemistry became the talk of the town.
Director Yash Chopra even captured the real-life love triangle in his 1981 film Silsila. It was the last film that saw the two legends together. Both Amitabh and Rekha have never acknowledged their relationship in public and have steered clear of each other ever since their last film.
On Simi Garewal’s chat show, Rekha denied being in love with Amitabh saying that she was in awe of a great man like him, but that there was nothing more to their relationship.
Recently in an interview, Amitabh had said that he was ready to work with Rekha again: “Why not? Well, if someone comes to me with a good script, and I like it, I’d surely do a film with her.”
We hope, somebody comes up with a script that will bring the two greats together again.
Mithun Chakraborty and Yogeeta Bali
This one is straight out of a Bollywood potboiler. Yogeeta Bali left her first husband Kishore Kumar for actor Mithun Chakraborty. After several years of bliss, their marriage hit the rocks when Mithun fell for his Jaag Utha Insaan co-star Sridevi and was ready to leave his wife for the Southern beauty.
Yogeeta refused to let go and Sridevi ended the relationship after she realized that Mithun was still married. The actress later went on to marry producer Boney Kapoor ending his marriage to his first wife Mona Kapoor.
Mithun and Yogeeta have four children, including actor Mimoh.
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri
King Khan’s marriage to Gauri has been something fairy tales are made of. But this paradise too saw trouble in the form of Priyanka Chopra. The media was abuzz with rumors of an affair in the making when the Don girl was spotted hanging around SRK at film sets, public appearances and award functions.
A lady with a mind of her own, Gauri didn’t take very kindly to Priyanka’s advances towards her husband and is said to have banned SRK from working with Priyanka again. All seems to be well now as Karan Johar bridged the gap between Piggy Chops and the Khans by inviting her to his 40th birthday party. Not without Mrs Khan’s approval though.
Rumors of Priyanka having an affair with Khiladi Akshay Kumar had also done the rounds after the actors teamed up for several back-to-back films.
Ajay Devgn and Kajol
For years now, this lovely couple has taken rumors of Kajol’s proximity to Shah Rukh Khan with a pinch of salt. But trouble started brewing when Kangana Ranaut entered the scene.
If a leading film magazine is to be believed, Ajay succumbed to the charms of his Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai co-star during the filming of the movie. Known for her forthright attitude, Kajol was said to have warned Ajay that she will leave him if he does not mend his ways.
This seems to have brought Ajay back to his senses as the couple has been going strong and there are no signs of any marital discord. However, Ajay is not on talking terms with Kangana anymore.
The Gangster girl was also rumored to have an affair with the much-married Aditya Panscholi during her initial years in Bollywood. However, that relationship also met an unhappy ending.
Madhur Bhandarkar and Renu Namboodri
The National award-winning director made headlines after an aspiring actress Preeti Jain filed a rape case against Madhur in 2004. After a lot speculation, the Supreme Court gave Madhur a clean chit.
All this while, Madhur’s better half maintained a dignified silence and continued to support her husband through the tough times. The couple remains happily married and also have a daughter.
Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna
The former ladies man was enjoying marital bliss with wife Twinkle Khanna till rumors of him romancing Priyanka Chopra surfaced. While the duo denied the rumors, the actors have not signed any films together despite giving hits like Aitraaz and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. Peace returned to Khiladi Kumar’s life and the actor remains happily married to Twinkle, along with his two lovely kids.
Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne
Though one of Bollywood’s favorite couples broke up last month, the marriage survived rumors of Hrithik being romantically involved with Latino actress and Kites co-star Barbara Mori.
While Sussanne was seen making appearances with her husband and Barbara at promotional events, the grapevine had it that she moved to her parents’ home with her two sons when her star husband took off with Mori for a trip.
However, Hrithik rubbished the rumors saying that Sussanne had to move temporarily as anti-termite work was going on in his house. All was well between the couple until December, when they shocked the Bollywood fraternity and fans by announcing their separation.
Nagarjuna and Amala
Rumors of the Telugu superstar seeing actress Tabu started doing the rounds after the two acted in two films together. It was even said that the talented actress turned down offers and shifted base to Hyderabad to be with Nagarjuna.
However, unlike the other relationships, the actor’s wife Amala seems to share a great rapport with Tabu. She was even seen socializing with the National award-winning actress at a ceremony organized to felicitate veteran actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao. The couple remains happily married and are seen making appearances at various filmy dos often.
