When Arbaaz Khan apologised for faking his divorce with Malaika Arora: "I find myself fighting a lonely battle"

Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan

Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan, once one of Bollywood’s most talked-about power couples, had an enduring relationship that captured the attention of their fans and the media alike.

Their love story began during a commercial shoot, and after dating for five years, the couple tied the knot in 1998.

Their marriage was blessed with a son, Arhaan Khan, born in 2002. However, after 17 years of marriage, the couple announced their separation in 2016, sending shockwaves through the entertainment industry.

After the split, Malaika moved on and began a relationship with actor Arjun Kapoor, the son of producer Boney Kapoor and Mona Shourie.

After much speculation and public interest, Malaika eventually made her relationship with Arjun official.

On the other hand, Arbaaz found love with model and actress Giorgia Andriani, although their relationship later ended. In 2023, Arbaaz remarried, this time to Sshura Khan, a makeup artist.

The separation of Malaika and Arbaaz was surprising for many, especially since they had long appeared to be a picture-perfect couple.

However, what many don't know is that, back in 2008, the couple once faked their divorce. At that time, Malaika and Arbaaz had signed a contract with a beauty brand for an advertisement campaign.

As part of the campaign, the PR team of the brand released statements to the media, confirming the couple’s supposed split, making it seem as though they were going through a divorce.

The plan was for the couple to reunite the very next day at the brand’s event, presenting a sense of reconciliation. Unfortunately, what was intended as a PR stunt quickly turned ugly.

Instead of generating the desired buzz, the fake divorce stunt backfired. Both Malaika and Arbaaz faced heavy backlash from the public, with accusations of being publicity-hungry and using their personal lives for commercial gain. The negative response left the couple embarrassed, and Arbaaz Khan later addressed the incident, attempting to clear the air and apologise for the controversial publicity stunt.

He said, "I’m very particular about the way I conduct myself, especially about my marriage. Suddenly, I find myself fighting a lonely battle to redeem my wife and my image. All we did was to go along with the multinational's campaign. Is compliance a crime? Then we’re guilty. And I apologise."

Following this, the couple worked hard to regain their image and move forward. Despite the faux split in 2008, the real-life separation in 2016 caught everyone by surprise, as they had always seemed like a happy and united couple.

Their divorce, after 18 years of marriage, left many stunned.

In 2015, the couple’s relationship came under further scrutiny when they both appeared on the television show Power Couples.

While the couple was initially meant to host the show together, Malaika was noticeably absent on several occasions, sparking rumours about the state of their marriage. Reports began circulating that the couple was working on their issues and trying to salvage their relationship, with many speculating that they were giving their marriage a second chance.

However, the rumours and speculation continued to grow, and in a joint statement, Malaika and Arbaaz confirmed their separation.

The announcement was a turning point, as it ended years of speculation and confirmed what many had suspected. There was also widespread media coverage claiming that Malaika had reportedly taken a hefty alimony sum of Rs. 10 crores from Arbaaz. While there was no official confirmation from either party regarding the exact figure, the media frenzy surrounding their split continued to capture public attention.

Despite their separation, both Malaika and Arbaaz have continued with their professional and personal lives.

Arbaaz’s remarriage to Sshura Khan and Malaika’s relationship with Arjun Kapoor has kept them both in the public eye. They have both moved on, but their journey through love, marriage, and separation remains a part of Bollywood's enduring narrative.

Their story serves as a reminder of how personal lives can sometimes be intertwined with public images, and how sometimes, even the most beloved couples face challenges that the world doesn’t always see.