Farhan Akhtar is one of the prominent faces in the Hindi film industry. Born to a family of eminent celebrities, the 50-year-old is a force to be reckoned with in contemporary times. He has not only written some of the blockbuster hits of Hindi cinema but has also directed and acted in some of the best films over the years. Apart from his professional front, Farhan's personal life has garnered the limelight time and again.
Farhan married Adhuna Bhabani in 2000, even before the release of his first film, Dil Chahta Hai, and they had two children, Shakya and Akira. After 16 years of marriage, the duo decided to part ways, and Farhan then got hitched to Shibani Dandekar in 2022. Recently, the filmmaker-turned-actor opened up about how his parents' divorce impacted his divorce while conversing with Faye D'Souza.
When the host asked Farhan if his parents, Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani's divorce, influenced his decision to end his marriage, he talked about the emotional complexities involved in making such a big decision. He further highlighted that having lived through his parents' divorce, he was aware of the kind of impact it would make on his own children. In his words:
"I had been through having divorced parents when I was a kid. I know what it felt like, and there was a huge part of me that was like, I cannot do this to my own kids."
Further continuing his thoughts on the same, Farhan said that he and his ex-wife, Adhuna, decided to have an open conversation with both their children. He shared that they both informed the kids that they weren't parting ways due to any fault of theirs. Rather, as adults, they came to the decision to get divorced together. Farhan was quoted as saying:
"I felt that it came to a place that if Adhuna and myself spoke to them openly and honestly, and explain to them why we are taking this kind of step, that it doesn't have anything to do with them. It’s not because of them. It’s not because of anything they did, they said, or because they are here. This is something between two grown up people, who as friends decided that this is something that they want to do. That’s the best we could do."
Meanwhile, Farhan also discussed how his decision to get a divorce had left him questioning whether he did the right thing and if his kids deserved this. However, he has accepted that he will have to continue living with this constant voice in his head about his decision. Farhan also added that because his parents' divorce happened when he was a kid, it has impacted him on how he felt about his own divorce.
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In the same conversation, Farhan also shared how his parents, Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani's divorce, affected him. He discussed that divorce wasn't a common practice when his parents had separated, and this had ultimately led other children in his school to tease him. Sharing what his fellow classmates used to say during a fight, Farhan added:
"Back then, it wasn’t common for parents to be divorced. But because who my parents were, it was public knowledge. If someone wanted to hit you below the belt in the school during a fight, they would say, ‘But your father left your mother’. And it would hurt. So apart from the fact that you were sad it happened, it would make you angry that it could be used against you."
Farhan Akhtar was last seen as an actor in the 2021 film, Toofaan. After this, he produced many films, including K.G.F: Chapter 2, The Archies, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, and more. Meanwhile, the 50-year-old is all set to make a comeback as a director after a 14-year hiatus. Farhan is going to direct the third instalment of his Don series, which will star Ranveer Singh in the titular role.
What do you think of Farhan Akhtar's revelations regarding his divorce dilemma?
Also Read: 'Ishqbaaaz's, Navina Bole And Her Husband Part Ways After 7 Years Of Marriage, She Shares The Reason
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