The divorce proceedings are on
A decade of marriage, countless public appearances and a relationship that, from the outside, appeared steady. So, when Akanksha Chamola revealed on a reality show that she and Gaurav Khanna were going their separate ways, the disclosure came as a surprise to those who had followed their relationship over the years.She says, “Mystery and misunderstanding hand-in-hand chalte hain with Akanksha Chamola. Gaurav and I have been living separately for 18 months. I had no choice but to appear on Bigg Boss because his parents couldn’t make it. It’s not like we were jaani dushman, toh main kyun karu tere liye. After Bigg Boss, Gaurav wanted me to accompany him to events. What people conveniently forget is that I am also an actor and get invited to these events. It’s not that I have always been a plus one.”‘Main gaaliyaan khaakar yahaan tak aayi hoon, appreciation ki wajah se nahi’Her revelation was followed by trolling, which Akanksha attributes largely to the public’s affection for Gaurav. She says, “The trolling I receive is borne out of people’s love for Gaurav. Log usse itna pyaar karte hain ki unko mujhse nafrat hone lagi hai. I am happy for all the love that Gaurav has been receiving, but I care two hoots about what the world has to think about me. In fact, inki gaaliyon ki wajah se main aaj aise reality show par aayi hoon. Main koi appreciation ki wajah se nahi aayi hoon, main gaaliyaan khaakar aayi hoon.”
Akanksha Chamola and Gaurav Khanna, who were married for a decade, have been living separately for 18 months as they navigate their relationship and divorce proceedings.
Gaurav’s subsequent entry into Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa also affected the experience she had intended to have on the show. Akanksha says, “I was prepared that whatever I have to do, I will do it inside and baahar se mujhe koi lena dena nahi hai and apna game khelungi. I did not prepare myself for the repercussions of revealing my secrets in the outside world. In fact, it was a surprise for me also ki Gaurav kyun aaya hai. Now, if he gives me outside information, something which I am happy about not facing, it will affect my mind frame.”She adds, “I still tried my level best in the game. I will not completely put the blame on Gaurav also. But it is true that I was, to an extent, mentally not as strong as I was in the first week. I am not upset about it because the show was about showing my real personality. If my game dropped somewhere, it was very organic and I have zero regrets for that.”‘You are not giving me work on the basis of my sexuality’Her decision to speak about her bisexuality was another significant moment on the show. However, Akanksha believes her sexuality should not have any bearing on how she is perceived professionally. She says, “I know of a lot of girls who are bisexual but they don’t come out. I am the last person who is image conscious. I have never worked and I don’t think I will ever work on the basis of my image. Agar mera potential meri acting aur mere craft mein dikh raha hai toh aapko kya fark padta hai ki meri sexuality kya hai. You are not giving me work on the basis of my sexuality or my image but on the basis of my talent and my craft. What difference does it make to you ki main kya kar rahi hoon ya kisi ke saath so rahi hoon ki nahi.”‘Gaurav and I had multiple reasons to reach this decision’On her separation from Gaurav, Akanksha maintains that there was no single trigger and that the decision followed a gradual breakdown of the relationship. She says, “That’s a very personal thing and it happened gradually. I can’t pinpoint one reason for it. We have had multiple reasons to reach this conclusion. That’s between Gaurav and me. The divorce proceedings are on. We have to sign our drafts and submit it. This has been going on for long, even before he left for Khatron Ke Khiladi.”
