We all know Shweta Tiwari, a high-flying actress who became a recognized face with the TV serial Kasautii Zindagii Kay. But the leading lady of the telly world had a shattered personal life with her husband Raja Chaudhary.
She tied the knot at the age of 19 in 1998 and was unfortunately trapped into a deeply unhappy marriage, which lasted for around two decades. Let’s have an insight into her roller-coaster battle with life and her abusive husband, and how she emerged out as a winner after her second shot to the marriage.
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She became a household name in 2011 with popular Ekta Kapoor’s show Kasautii Zindagii Kay and had a successful and comforting journey towards stardom. She has also ventured into films and was second most awarded Star Parivaar Awards Winner.
She has done a few other shows like Nach Baliye and Jaane Kya Baat Hui. The powerful female TV actress was also the winner of Big Boss Season 4.
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Pretty babe Shweta met Raja Choudhary through a friend who was Raja’s cousin. Soon they became buddies and the lovey-dovey phase began. Both started enjoying each other’s company and the relationship went strong enough to culminate into the decision of a life time.
Their courtship ended within a few months and the much-in-love duo decided to take it to the next level. Raja Choudhary at that time was a struggling actor; the reason Shweta’s mother wasn’t supportive and was concerned.
However, the telly actress was blindfolded in love and the advice was only falling on deaf ears. She finally got hitched to 23-year-old Raja and gave birth to daughter Palak in 2000.
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Just a few years into a new life with her husband and the relationship started nearing the breaking point. The relationship started turning toxic and Shweta became a target of domestic violence. Though her husband’s career took off as a Bhojpuri actor, but he was still like a parasite on his financially independent wife.
Soon the relationship became loveless, hostile and dangerous for the actress. Her marriage started sinking with continuous verbal abuses, constant heartaches, spats and arguments. But like any other wife; she had put up with those for the sake of the family.
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After staying and giving everything to the relationship; it became impossible for Shweta to stand his erratic behaviour anymore. Yelling, threats, emotional torture and mental illness were all that became a part of Shweta’s life. Enough was enough and she soon took a stand and became public with what she was facing. It was the time for her to put her self-respect above anything else.
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No way could she get back her life on track. So, the only solution or the lady was to walk away. After all, she was not someone who would ignore the violent situation in her life. She very well knew that she deserved better. Besides, she was not alone in her battle. She had to fight for and along with her daughter who was like an additional challenge for the mother.
As per Shweta:
“Even after getting separated after seven years of marital bond-age with Raja, the following six years have been full of the same ruckus as he would trouble me incessantly.”
Walking away was only half the battle won. The world was still crumbling around her. There were continuous mistreatments, arguments and bizarre behaviour from Raja’s side. A legal separation was a must for Shweta to feel safe and liberate herself of miseries.
She gave a choice to Raja where he can choose between daughter Palak and the house to which he will have sole ownership. While Raja grabbed the house, Shweta got a chance to have her daughter’s sole custody. She left no stones unturned to make sure that daughter Palak stays with her.
She said in an interview:
“I made him two offers, either take a house, which would be co-owned by our daughter Palak, or to take the sole ownership rights of a house, and stay away from Palak; he immediately lapped up the latter one.”
Needless to say, it was her amazing courage that helped Shweta get rid of the ugly phase. Filing for separation, walking away and the emotional fight is no less than a heroic feat. But there was someone who cared for her and joined in her journey of emotional imbalance and sorrows.
Shweta had met Abhinav Kohli on the sets of Jaane Kya Baat Hui who not only became her pillar and strength but also her second love. But this didn’t go down well with Raja and he filed a police complaint against Abhinav and started harassing her for having an affair with him.
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But Abhinav handled and helped Shweta in getting a legal separation from Raja in every aspect; be it property, custody of daughter or emotional traumas. With Abhinav’s help, Shweta finally got a legal decree of her divorce with Raja in the year 2012.
Amidst her legal tussle and trauma; she gave herself a second chance in love with a renewed hope. Thankfully she was not broken and was keen on crafting a new life for herself. No doubt, it was hard and starting from scratch is always tough.
Even Palak started enjoying his company. But her failed first marriage did not make it all that easy for her to think about marriage. She was apprehensive as well as nervous, but she eventually gave in to the idea of settling down again. Abhinav’s respect for women and sense of responsibility made her realise that he was her Mr Right.
Shweta gleefully said that she is enjoying her marriage:
“(But) life does not come with a guarantee that I will never like anyone else, nor will he. But, right now, there is a deep sense of security in our relationship”.
Having Raja out of their life and having a multitude of issues settled down; Abhinav and Shweta started a new chapter together. They were both patient with each other and loved each other a lot. Abhinav helped Shweta with hundreds of commitments she was involved with; kids, work, family and anything else. Abhinav also took care of Palak when Shweta was busy with Big Boss 4. Soon, Shweta and Abhinav figured out their need for each other and set their wedding date as July 13, 2013.
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The couple went for a low-key Punjabi wedding and opted for a small guest list. They invited selected people to their wedding on July 13, 2013, at a five-star Suburban hotel, Mumbai. They also held a reception on July 31, 2013, where they invited pals from the TV industry.
Abhinav no doubt picked up the pieces that another man left and proved to be a great step-dad to Palak. He took less time to win her daughter Palak’s heart. Shweta gave birth to a baby boy whom they have named Reyansh on November 27, 2016.
The new mom is currently enjoying being the second-time mother. With Abhinav along, Shweta’s life became remarkable and significant again.
Divorce proceedings, a sole guardian, work and life balance and the irksome incidents were enough to break the lady. Isn’t she giving a strong message to all those women who are facing domestic violence? Helping yourself and standing up against the injustice is what Shweta Tiwari’s tale talks about. Her painfully long episode is about being strong and handling it your own way.
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