"The divorce by mutual consent was allowed… by the family court in Bandra."
Bollywood actor and director Farhan Akhtar has officially divorced from his estranged wife Adhuna Bhabani.
A family court in Bandra granted the divorce, after a long 18-month period since the couple announced their plans to separate.
Their divorce became official on 24th April 2017. It marks the end of their long 16-year marriage.
Both of their lawyers confirmed the news, with Farhan’s lawyer saying: “The divorce by mutual consent was allowed… by the family court in Bandra.”
While hairdresser Adhuna Bhabani has custody of their two children, Shakya and Akira, Farhan will have access to see them whenever he wishes.
Throughout the day, the family court had called out the case twice in the morning. The former couple didn’t attend the first session, but by the commencement of the second, they had both arrived.
Back in January 2016, Farhan Akhtar and Adhuna Bhabani announced their intentions to separate. In a statement they had both made, it read:
“This is to announce that we, Adhuna and Farhan, have mutually and amicably decided to separate. Our children remain our priority and it is immensely important to us, as responsible parents, that they be protected from unwarranted speculations and public glare.”
But, they only filed for divorce later that year in October.
Courts had given them a six-month waiting period until they could finalise the separation. In that time, they went to counselling sessions in November 2016.
The court had advised them that after the six-month period, their divorce would go through only if they still felt the same about their relationship.
Now, the divorce has marked the end of their 16-year marriage. The estranged couple first married back in 2000 and went on to have their two daughters.
Since the announced separation, Farhan Akhtar faced many rumours speculating a romance between him and Shraddha Kapoor. While the supposed couple didn’t reveal if the rumours had truth to them, speculation still persists as reports suggest they are keeping their relationship quiet.
But, with his divorce from Adhuna officially granted, Farhan can move on with the next chapter in his life.