Domestic violence- an offense? A crime or just another over-hyped expression? Well, whatever may be your views on it; this is something that exists and unfortunately still going strong! This is not just an issue limited to the masses, even celebs’ life is not that rosy.
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From film-stars to beauty queens to TV actresses, no section of the glamour world has been spared from its clutches. Here are some of the actresses that have come out in the media and reported about the physical and mental abuse they suffered in their relationships.
Let’s start with the world’s most gorgeous woman Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. As we all know, the Aishwarya-Salman affair had generated a big storm when their break-up story hit newspapers and tabloids. But what went wrong between the two most ‘good-looking’ people? Well, Aishwarya after the split up was found saying that she had to endure Salman’s alcoholism and was at the receiving end of his abuses and infidelity. They broke up when Salman indirectly confessed to her that he was cheating on her. In 2000, Aishwarya's parents also filed a police complaint against Salman Khan for stalking, threatening and trying to forcefully enter Aishwarya’s house.
This whole episode took another leap in 2002, when Salman came onto the sets of Chalte Chalte. Furious actor “reportedly” hit Aishwarya and pushed her on the ground and destroyed the sets. As a result of all this high-end drama, Aishwarya was sacked from the film and Rani Mukerji was roped in. Aishwarya in her interview to Times of India said:
“There were times when Salman got physical with me, luckily without leaving any marks. And I would go to work as if nothing had happened."
Now going to the other side of the story, when Salman was asked whether he has hit a woman, he said:
"If I hit a woman, she wouldn't have survived. It's not true that I hit a woman."
As for the former Miss World:
“Let others say what they want. But every person concerned knows the truth... God is the witness."
Aishwarya even declared Salman’s chapter to be a nightmare in her life.
A successful actress, model and former beauty queen, Zeenat’s married life and her relationship both were unfortunately far away from being perfect. In the 80s Zeenat's relationship with already married Sanjay Khan ended on a terrible note. There were reports in the print that Sanjay brutally bashed up Zeenat in front of his wife in hotel Taj.
He thrashed her so much that Zeenat got a permanent scar on her eye. After this incident, Zeenat went into the state of shock and had to be injected with anti-depressants three times a day. In an old report one of her doctor was quoted as saying:
“Zeenat was in such a terrible state. Her face was covered with bruises and black eyes. There were blood clots in her eyes and her lips were severely cut.”
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After this gory anti-fairy-tale, Zeenat got married to Mazhar Khan. Unfortunately the actress was physically battered in this relationship also. In a press conference in Mumbai, Zeenat bravely spoke about this issue and brought it to limelight. Zeenat had filed for divorce also but Mazhar’s sudden death due to renal failure brought an end to to their marriage.
The former Miss World Yukta Mookhey, is also a victim of domestic violence. In 2012, she submitted a written application in the Mumbai police station against her husband, Prince Tulli, alleging harassment and abuse. Following which the police had carried out an inquiry but no FIR was registered.
However, later she finally filed an FIR with a dowry harassment case against him. She has claimed that Tuli has been verbally and physically abusing her and forces her to have unnatural sex.
Right after the much-publicised Swayamwar, Dimpy Ganguly was seen making headlines for her charges against her husband Rahul Mahajan. She spoke out loud about his abusive ways and how Rahul used to point his gun at her during their fights. When Mumbai Mirror met up with Dimpy just hours after that incident, there were bruises on her shin, right and left hand, while her left cheek was swollen. There was also a lump on her head. Dimpy’s statement in the media at that time was:
“I don't know what I have gotten myself into. He seemed nice, but no one can control him when he gets abusive."
The most popular beti of Indian Television, Shweta Tiwari, is another victim of domestic violence. Before her divorce the actress had been pouring her heart out in interviews about troubled relationship with her husband. The abusive marriage lasted 14 years and came to an end with Shweta’s allegations about domestic abuse in court against Raja. She claimed that Raja would come home drunk and physically harm her. During their marriage also, Shweta had reported against Raja several times in police stations for physical and verbal abuse.
TV actress Rucha Gujrati who made her debut with Ekta Kapoor's show, Kkusum is another victim on the list. She was married to businessman Mitul Sanghavi and reportedly her marriage hit the rock bottom due to the physical and mental abuse at the hands of her husband and in-laws. According to the reports published in the TOI, sources said that Rucha was tortured and badly beaten on many occasions by her husband and in-laws. The torture was to an extent that she was even deprived of meals and asked to foot the bills for her expenses.
The reigning Queen of Bollywood, Kangana Ranaut made a confession about being in an abusive relationship with Aditya Pancholi, earlier in her career. The actress in an interview to a media portal went on to reveal rather explicit details about how she was physically abused in that relationship. She said:
"It was a very difficult and very harsh time. I was physically abused. I don’t have to go to details. I felt trapped. You feel people might help you. But there are no free lunches. This man who was my father’s age hit me hard on my head when I was 17. I started bleeding. I took out my sandal and hit his head hard and he started to bleed too."
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Karisma Kapoor, who belongs to Bollywood's first family, The Kapoors too have not spared from the horror of domestic violence. The actress is now divorced from her husband Sanjay Kapur and the reason for their divorce was domestic violence case. While the custody of the kids was already granted to Karisma, it was later decided that Sunjay will have occasional access to them.
Bollywood and television actress, Deepshikha Nagpal has accused her husband of four years, of physical abuse. She got married to Kaishav Arora in 2012, but soon differences cropped up and they both filed for divorce that got finalised on February 29, 2016. Reportedly, she had even filed a police complaint when he had threatened to kill her in 2015. On Women's Day, March 8, she filed a complaint aginst him for trespassing, theft and physical assault, and said:
"I was physically abused on a day when the world was celebrating womanhood. How could he enter my house without my permission? I want justice. I am on my way to the police station. I am going to file an FIR. Keshav had come to my place two days back (March 8) asking for money. When I refused to give him money, he started hitting me. I was bleeding from the nose. I have too many injuries on my body. I am shocked after this incident. He thinks he's a man and can get away with anything. I am not going to cry and will teach him a lesson The first time I did (complaint) and I thought he will be fine, everybody has to give one chance to this marriage, but if the man does it again, and on Women's Day I'm being beaten up, I will not take it, if I remain mum so what will other wives do?"
However, Kaishav denied the allegations made against him, and said that she was unfaithful in the relationship. They have now given a second chance to their marriage.
These celebs came out and admitted they were physically abused. There is no shame in that. It is the other person who needs to be shamed. These women had set an example for many women out there to fight for what is right!
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