Malaika Arora recalls Single Mother Struggle after Divorce

Malaika Arora recalled her divorce as well as the difficulty of becoming a single mother afterwards.

She had been married to Arbaaz Khan for 19 years but divorced in 2017. They have a son named Arhaan.

Malaika admitted that at the time, she felt like “the whole world is crashing” but knew she had to be more responsible.

At the time, her son needed her “more than ever”.

Malaika explained: “When I took that decision or that step to be a single mother, I didn’t (pause).

“At that point, you always feel that the whole world is crashing on your head and how you gonna manage I think that’s a very normal human reaction.

“But having said that, I also knew that it is something I have to take on.

“I have to be responsible. I have a son, he is growing up, he needs me more than ever. I have to be that right example. I have to be able to steer him in the right direction and at the same time let him make his own mistakes.”

Admitting that she felt “scared”, Malaika continued:

“Yes, I did feel scared, vulnerable, frightened, all of those emotions.

“But I also felt that I had to take one day at a time. I couldn’t take giant leaps because that is just not possible.

“I had to see what every day would unfold for me.”

“At that point, the only thinking about I needs to be, not if I am a single mother but I need to be a working single mother. For me, that was more important.”

Since divorcing Arbaaz, Malaika Arora has been in a relationship with Arjun Kapoor since 2019.

She previously received praise from Arjun. He had said:

“We stood by each other through this relationship, facing speculation, facing brickbats, facing chatter, unnecessary at times, because of social media toxicity.

“It was hell for us for many days. She had to face so much because of the fact that we came out in the open, but I admire her for giving me and our relationship so much dignity.

“Standing by Malaika never felt like it’s something extraordinary. It felt just the right thing, the most natural thing to do.”

On the work front, Malaika Arora was last seen as a judge on India’s Best Dancer 2.