The film industry is aflush with beautiful people. Attraction and relationships come easily, but keeping them strong amidst a demanding and hectic lifestyle is the real challenge. Heartaches and broken marriages became commonplace in 2016, with many celebrities parting ways. The seven-year itch turned into a festering wound for many this year. Ironically, seven such couples from tinsel town suffered heartbreaks in some form or the other. Anushka Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor, lead actors of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, even crooned the celebratory 'Breakup Song'.
1. Katrina Kaif-Ranbir Kapoor
There was a glint in Ranbir Kapoor’s eyes each time he spoke about Katrina Kaif. This love had blossomed on the sets of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009). Few years on, Kaif moved into Ranbir’s bachelor pad. Buzz had it that the famous Kapoor family had approved Ranbir’s choice, and talk of marriage gained momentum. While Kaif was said to be keen on settling down, Ranbir did not want a distraction in his career. The relationship saw ups and downs as paparazzi reported tales of constant fights between the star couple.
As it often happens with celebrity couples, a film brings them together and a film causes a divide. Rumour had it that tired of the constant tiffs, Kaif had stopped reporting for the shoot of Jagga Jasoos (2017). Director Anurag Basu and producers Disney India maintained that the delay was never due to any personal reasons. Mid-2016 there were reports that Kaif and Ranbir had called it quits. Ranbir would finally open up about the breakup in an interview to broadcast journalist Rajeev Masand, while Kaif wasn't amused with Ranbir's public admission. Unlike Ranbir, she didn’t reveal much to Masand, but merely vowed to concentrate on her career ahead.
2. Malaika Arora-Arbaaz Khan
When they said 'I do', it was said to be a marriage made in heaven. Only death could do them apart. Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan got married in 1998. Four years later, the couple had their only child, son Arhaan. Just when the world thought it was a union meant to be, cracks started to develop in the relationship. Arora was reportedly quoted as saying that she was paying her child’s tuition fees. Even as Arbaaz's career was in a limbo, tales of infidelity started to surface.
The rumours got credence when Arbaaz was spotted holidaying with Goan restaurateur Yellow Mehra. Soon, Arjun Kapoor was spotted visiting Arora’s Bandra residence in the wee hours. Arora came out to rubbish the rumours and said that Arjun was just a friend. Arbaaz admitted on Koffee With Karan's 100th episode aired recently that since his separation from Arora, he had hit on only one woman. The confession came days after Arora and Arbaaz filed for divorce in the Bandra family court.
3. Karisma Kapoor-Sanjay Kapur
Given the troubles they had from the time they got married, it was surprising why Karisma Kapoor and Sanjay Kapur were still a couple. Karisma surprised all when she married businessman Sanjay in September 2003, soon after her engagement with Abhishek Bachchan — announced on Amitabh Bachchan’s 60th birthday in October 2002 — broke up. The couple had problems but seemed to have reconciled for the sake of their kids Sameira and Kiaan. Later, it was reported that Sanjay was dating model Priya Sachdev. Karisma and Sanjay filed a petition for divorce by mutual content in 2014, and after an ugly 2-year battle, were granted divorce this year. Karisma is now rumoured to be dating businessman Sandeep Toshniwal.
4. Farhan Akhtar-Adhuna Bhabani
This one was quite a hair-raising love story. An NRI from Britain, Adhuna Bhabani rose to fame as hair-stylist on Farhan Akhtar’s directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai (2001). The couple had married in 2000. Akhtar and Bhabani have two daughters – Shakya and Akira. Later, Akhtar showed his talent in front of the camera too. To the world, Akhtar was always known as the perfect gentleman. He's known to be soft-soken, never extravagant, a ideal husband and family man. Thus, it came as a shock to many when news of trouble in their paradise broke. Akhtar has been linked to co-stars Kalki Koechlin, Shraddha Kapoor and Yami Gautam. At the beginning of this year, Akhtar and Bhabani ended the speculation by issuing a joint statement confirming the end of their marriage.
“This is to announce that we, Adhuna and Farhan, have mutually and amicably decided to separate. Our children remain our priority and it is immensely important to us, as responsible parents, that they be protected from unwarranted speculation and public glare. We sincerely request that we are given the privacy that is required at this time to move forward in a dignified manner.”
5. Sushant Singh Rajput-Ankita Lokhande
Unlike in cinema, television tends to produce more reel-turned-real couples. Sushant Singh Rajput and Ankita Lokhande were one such couple. They came together on the sets of Pavitra Rishta and forged a close bond. However, neither of them ever made their relationship public. After nine years of courtship, trouble occurred in this paradise with rumours of Rajput getting cozy with his Raabta co-star Kriti Sanon. Lokhande's shattered celluloid dreams supposedly made her take to the bottle. The relationship ended reportedly at a bash where Lokhande allegedly gave Rajput a mouthful after spotting him allegedly flirting with another popular star. It didn't take Rajput long to rubbish the rumour, but he did confess that the couple had parted ways.
6. Himesh Reshammiya-Komal
Hailing from a traditional Gujarati family meant that Himesh Reshammiya would tie the knot at 21, in an arranged marriage to Komal. Komal gave birth to their only child, Swayam. Some years ago, rumours started doing the rounds that Reshammiya had gotten close to television star Sonia Kapoor. Perhaps, this marked the beginning of the end of Reshammiya and Komal's marriage. It was later reported that Reshammiya and Sonia had parted ways and peace was restored between Komal and him. However, in early December, it was reported that Reshammiya and Komal had filed for divorce in the Bandra family court. Both issued a statement with the familiar ‘we grew apart’ line.
7. Kamal Haasan-Gautami
This was a relationship that the couple didn’t want to complicate by getting married. Kamal Haasan, who's had two failed marriage before, stood by Gautami Tadimalla in sickness and health. Haasan was the pillar of strength for Tadimalla when she battled cancer. One would have thought that this live-in relationship would last forever. Unfortunately, on 1 December Tadimalla wrote a heartfelt letter ending her 13-year-old relationship with the south superstar. Haasan was said to be devastated, but hasn’t spoken a word on this setback.