Snehashish roy
Actress and fitness icon Malaika Arora has opened up about the intense emotional and societal pressure she faced during her separation from filmmaker Arbaaz Khan, revealing that judgment and backlash came not just from strangers but also from those closest to her. Her candid reflections paint a picture of how navigating divorce, especially as a public figure, can expose fault lines in personal relationships and in the way society perceives women who step outside traditional roles.
Malaika and Arbaaz were married for nearly two decades before their separation in 2016. At the time, their split made headlines because long-standing relationships in Bollywood are often idealised in the public imagination, and divorce was still seen as something many would rather not openly talk about. Over the years, Malaika has gradually shared more about her experiences, stressing that the difficult period was marked by heavy scrutiny and unsolicited commentary.
In a recent interview, Malaika explained that one of the hardest parts of that phase was dealing with judgment from unexpected quarters, including friends and family. She said that at times, even people she cared about weighed in with their opinions about her marriage and divorce, which made an already difficult process feel isolating. Instead of finding support, she often encountered reactions that assumed she had made the wrong choice or that she was to blame for the breakdown of her marriage.
“It felt like everywhere I turned, there was a commentary on what I should have done, what I shouldn’t have done, how I should behave, how I should respond,” Malaika remarked, reflecting on how harsh and prescriptive the external voices felt. For a woman trying to rebuild her life and identity after separation, such pressure added emotional strain on top of the already complex legal and personal dimensions of divorce.
What made Malaika’s experience particularly resonant for many was her openness about the double standards at play. She described how women often face harsher criticism than men in similar situations, pointing out that society tends to judge a woman’s choices in love, marriage and separation with a severity that is less frequently applied to men. This imbalance, she said, was one of the most frustrating aspects of her journey, and one that prompted her to speak out so that others could feel less alone in similar circumstances.
Notably, Malaika’s remarks come against the backdrop of recent comments from Arbaaz Khan himself, who admitted in an interview that he “regretted marrying young.” Arbaaz’s reflection has been widely shared as an example of how personal insight often develops only in hindsight, particularly when a marriage begins early in life. His honesty about feeling unprepared for the responsibilities of marriage resonated with many who see young unions as challenging when individual growth is still unfolding.
Arbaaz’s comment sparked its own conversation, with some interpreting it as a natural self-reflection and others debating whether such public admissions help in healing or inadvertently reopen old wounds. Malaika did not comment directly on Arbaaz’s specific words, but her own narrative about judgment and self-discovery suggests that both individuals have been processing the experience in their own ways.
Beyond personal relationships, Malaika’s willingness to speak about her journey has also contributed to a broader cultural dialogue on how divorce and separation should be understood in modern society, especially for women who are often expected to conform to rigid norms. Her story highlights how resilience, self-respect and community support are crucial, particularly when external voices try to define a person’s worth based on marital status.
Today, Malaika has successfully carved out her own identity, as a performer, a fitness trailblazer and a person who refuses to be defined solely by her past. The evolution of her narrative reflects a shift in societal attitudes, where candid discussions about relationships, regret and growth can help challenge outdated stereotypes and encourage more compassionate understanding of life’s complexities.