Why did Aamir Khan and Reena Dutta part ways?

Aamir Khan was seen with his first ex-wife, Reena Dutta, last night outside a jewelry shop. The two have been spotted together after a long time, and their reunion has garnered significant attention on social media, with Aamir receiving praise for his humility.

And why not? The two were married for a lengthy 16 years before they decided to part ways. Although the divorce was mutual, it was a challenging period for Aamir, who took a sabbatical from films lasting nearly four years to cope with the loss.

Khan had secretly married Reena due to his intense love for her. A decade later, the two decided to go their separate ways, which was a significant setback for both of them.

The love marriage

Aamir married Reena on April 1, 1986, in a private ceremony. Reena was Aamir’s neighbor, and he was deeply infatuated with her. The two had a love marriage, defying the wishes of their families. Despite initial resistance, the families of both Aamir and Reena eventually accepted their relationship.

However, at that time, Aamir was not yet a superstar, and his first film, "Qayamat se Qayamat Tak," was released in 1988. While Reena had no film background like Aamir, nor was she interested in movies, she did make a special appearance in the song "Papa Kehte Hai" from "QSQT."

The next 16 years went relatively smoothly for the couple as Aamir soared to success with a string of blockbusters by the end of 2000, including "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar" (1992), "Rangeela" (1995), "Raja Hindustani" (1996), "Ghulam" (1998), and "Sarfarosh" (1998).

However, after the success of "Dil Chahta Hai" (2001), Aamir went through a divorce from Reena, after which he didn't sign any film for four years. It was a significant low point in Aamir's life, and he remained inactive in the film industry for an extended period.

Why did they separate?

Although the couple never publicly revealed the reasons behind their separation, it is believed that temperamental differences played a role in their divorce. Additionally, Aamir's unwavering dedication to his career and films made it difficult for him to balance the responsibilities of a husband and a father to their two children.

Rumors of Aamir's alleged romantic involvement with actresses like Preity Zinta, Pooja Bhatt, and model Jessica Hines were also cited as contributing factors to the rift between him and Reena. They began living separately in October 2001, and in 2002, they legally separated, with custody of their two children, Junaid and Ira, granted to Reena.

Aamir went through a period of dejection, and after "Dil Chahta Hai" (2001), he did not take on any film roles for the next four years. During an episode of "Koffee with Karan" Season 7, Aamir shared his perspective on their separation: “Reena and I were married for 16 years. When we split up, it was traumatic for both of us and our families. We tried to deal with the situation as best as we could. Reena and I did not lose love or respect for each other post our split,” he said.

Their separation also had a lasting impact on their children. Aamir and Reena’s daughter, Ira Khan, has often spoken about how her parents' separation profoundly affected her mental health and continues to influence her life today.

Aamir’s personal life

Despite being called 'Mr. Perfectionist,' Aamir Khan's personal life has faced its share of challenges. At one point, Aamir had a legal dispute with his father, Tahir Hussain, over the custody of his brother Faisal Khan, who co-starred with him in "Mela" (2000). Aamir had a strained relationship with his father, resulting in both of them filing separate statements in court regarding Faisal's custody.

Aamir claimed that Faisal suffered from schizophrenia, while his father's statement argued that Faisal only suffered from depression. In 2008, Faisal accused Aamir of keeping him under house arrest and forcefully taking custody of him. However, Faisal and Aamir have since mended their relationship and share a cordial bond.

In 2021, Aamir mutually divorced his second wife, Kiran Rao, whom he had married in 2005. The couple shares a son, Azad, conceived via IVF. Although Aamir and Kiran maintain a friendly relationship after their divorce, it was speculated that Aamir's closeness with Fatima Sana Sheikh served as a catalyst for their separation.

In any case, Aamir has successfully maintained healthy relationships with his two wives, his brother, and his children. On the work front, following the disappointing performance of "Laal Singh Chaddha" (2023), Aamir has taken a brief hiatus from films and has not yet announced his next project.