Aashiqui fame Rahul Roy's tragic personal life: From alleged relationships with Pooja Bhatt, Manisha Koirala to divorce with wife Rajlaxmi Khanvilkar

Aashiqui fame Rahul Roy's tragic personal life: From alleged relationships with Pooja Bhatt, Manisha Koirala to divorce with wife Rajlaxmi Khanvilkar

• Rahul Roy became an overnight star with Aashiqui in 1990.
• His later films failed to match Aashiqui's success, impacting his career.
• Roy faced personal and health challenges over the years.

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When Hindi cinema looks back at defining debuts, Rahul Roy’s arrival in Aashiqui is impossible to ignore. Released in 1990, the Mahesh Bhatt-directed musical became a cultural moment, not just a successful film. Its songs dominated airwaves, its romance struck a chord with a generation, and its lead actor became an overnight star. That year alone saw major releases like Dil, Ghayal, Swarg, and Kishan Kanhaiya. Yet Aashiqui carved a separate space for itself. Producer Mukesh Bhatt once described the film as “the biggest musical hit ever seen in the century.” For Rahul Roy, it should have been the beginning of a long, flourishing career.

The Burden of a Perfect Beginning

Success arrived too fast and too decisively. Rahul Roy was instantly branded the “Aashiqui boy,” a label that proved difficult to escape.

Films that followed failed to replicate the same magic. Box-office disappointments began to stack up, and the industry, known for its short memory, slowly moved on.

Even repeated collaborations and support from his mentor Mahesh Bhatt could not revive the momentum. What should have been a strong professional relationship gradually faded into distance, leaving Roy to navigate a shrinking career on his own.

Rahul Roy

If his professional life struggled to find stability, his personal life mirrored that uncertainty.

Rahul Roy was reportedly in a relationship with Pooja Bhatt, with whom he worked on three films. Despite frequent speculation, neither publicly confirmed the relationship. Pooja Bhatt described him as a good friend, and the association quietly ended without clarity or closure.

It was the first of several relationships that would slip through his fingers.

When a Crisis Revealed Distances

In 2020, Rahul Roy suffered a brain stroke while shooting. The medical emergency marked a turning point, not just physically but emotionally. Speaking in an interview with Siddharth Kanan, Roy made a candid revelation about who stood by him during that phase. “No one from Mahesh Bhatt’s home called,” he said. “We should be grateful for those who turned up.”

He added that Salman Khan reached out once he became aware of the situation. “Salman didn’t know about it, but when he got to know, he called up and offered help. I said okay, but whenever we get the chance, we should repay.”

Finding Love in Manisha Koirala

Another significant chapter in Rahul Roy’s personal life involved Manisha Koirala. Their relationship coincided with a crucial phase in both their careers. Roy, keen to rebuild his professional standing, chose to prioritise work.

The imbalance proved fatal for the relationship. Eventually, it ended, and Koirala later went on to date Nana Patekar, a relationship that was equally intense and turbulent.

Once again, timing and circumstance seemed to work against Roy.

Also Read: When Rahul Roy revealed Salman Khan paid his pending medical bills after brain stroke, "this man is gem, log kehte hai wo aisa hai, waisa hai..."

The Rahul Roy–Suman Ranganathan Chapter

Reports later linked Rahul Roy with Suman Ranganathan, suggesting the two were in a live-in relationship. However, as career opportunities beckoned in the South Indian film industry, Suman chose to move on professionally.

Distance did what it often does best. The relationship faded, reinforcing the pattern that had begun to define Roy’s personal life.

A Marriage That Ended Too Soon

In 1998, Rahul Roy married Rajlaxmi Khanvilkar, hoping perhaps for emotional stability away from the unpredictability of the film world. The marriage, however, lasted barely six months.

Announcing their separation, Roy maintained a tone of dignity and respect. “We have filed for divorce by mutual consent,” he said. “Rajlaxmi will always remain an integral part of my life. She shares the same sentiment. Her family is still my family, and that’s that. I’ll always be there for her.”