Bollywood actor and former Miss India winner Celina Jaitly has taken a dramatic legal step against her husband, Austrian businessman Peter Haag, filing a complaint under the Domestic Violence Act that accuses him of physical, emotional, sexual and verbal abuse. In her petition filed in a Mumbai court, Jaitly claims that the alleged mistreatment forced her to flee their home in Austria and seek refuge in India. She is seeking compensation of ₹50 crore for the trauma and losses she says she suffered, along with monthly maintenance of ₹10 lakh.
In the detailed legal filing, Jaitly describes Haag as “a narcissistic, self-absorbed individual with alcoholic tendencies,” alleging his behaviour caused ongoing stress and shattered her confidence and independence. She asserts that after their marriage in 2011, she was prohibited from working, prompting major personal and financial consequences. Among her grievances, she claims Haag took control of her Mumbai property and systematically dismantled her financially.
The court has accepted the complaint and issued a notice to Haag, with the next hearing scheduled for December 12. Meanwhile, Jaitly says she is fighting the case largely without the support of her parents, brother or children, making the challenge even more emotionally taxing.
The couple’s story, previously characterised as stable and quiet, has entered the public spotlight with serious allegations of marital breakdown. Jaitly and Haag, who have three children together, now find themselves in a highly charged legal and personal confrontation.
This development carries multiple dimensions: a public figure taking a stand on marital abuse, the added visibility of domestic violence proceedings, and the intersection of personal trauma with financial claims. By seeking hefty compensation and maintenance, Jaitly underscores the gravity of her allegations and the impact she says the abuse has had on her life and career.
In a broader context, the case speaks to ongoing issues of power dynamics, control and autonomy in relationships, especially where one partner is financially dominant or controlling. Jaitly’s decision to go to court rather than resolve the matter privately reflects changing norms about speaking out and seeking formal accountability.
For the entertainment industry, the case may act as a marker: celebrity status does not insulate one from domestic turmoil, nor does it make seeking justice any less complicated. The coming months will determine not only the legal outcome but the precedent set for how similar allegations are handled in public life.