In a surprising twist, it appears all is not well in the marriage of Bollywood superstar Govinda and his wife, Sunita Ahuja. After 38 years of marriage, the couple’s relationship seems to be heading for a divorce.
According to a report originally published by BBC Urdu, Sunita Ahuja filed for divorce a year ago, and the first court hearing took place on Thursday at the Mumbai Family Court. While Sunita was present, Govinda attended the hearing via video conference. The court has since instructed him to be physically present at the next hearing, which is scheduled for November.
Govinda’s lawyer, Lalit Bindal, told BBC Hindi that Sunita filed the divorce petition last December, citing various sections of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, including cruelty, illicit affairs, and desertion. However, Bindal believes a compromise is close. “The matter is old and both will reach a settlement soon,” he said, adding that the case is currently in the counseling phase.
Just last week, Sunita Ahuja launched a YouTube channel on her birthday and, in a video, hinted at the separation, blaming anonymous individuals for spoiling her relationship with Govinda.
Govinda, 63, and Sunita, 57, were married on March 11, 1987. They have two children: their daughter, Narmada (36), known in the film industry as Tina Ahuja, and their son, Yashvardhan Ahuja (28), who is reportedly preparing for his acting debut.
Divorce has increasingly become a spotlight issue in Bollywood, where even long-standing marriages of stars often end under public and media scrutiny. Over the years, several high-profile couples have parted ways despite decades together.
For instance, Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao announced their separation in 2021 after 15 years of marriage, while Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Khan ended their 14-year union in 2014, citing compatibility issues. More recently, Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora’s divorce after 18 years together drew immense attention, highlighting how even seemingly stable relationships in the film industry face pressures of fame, lifestyle differences, and media speculation. These examples show how celebrity divorces in Bollywood often become not just personal matters, but public conversations about love, loyalty, and changing social values.