Farhan Akhtar has discussed the emotional toll that his divorce from ex-wife Adhuna Bhabani has taken on his children Shakya and Akira.
Farhan Akhtar is devoted to his daughters Shakya and Akira, whom he had with his first wife Adhuna. The actor-turned-filmmaker often hangs out with his kids along with his wife Shibani Dandekar. He recently spoke about feeling extremely ‘guilty’ for his daughters following his divorce. The ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ actor dated Adhuna Bhabani for three years. The couple welcomed two kids, Shakya and Akira after marriage in 2000. But after 16 years of marriage, things went wrong in their seemingly solid relationship, and the couple announced their split in 2016.
Farhan Akhtar feels ‘guilty’ for his daughters
During a new episode of podcast Chapter 2, host Rhea Chakraborty asked Farhan Akhtar how his parents’ Javed Akhtar and his first wife, Honey Irani getting a divorce had an impact on him. She then connected it to how his daughters Shakya and Akira dealt with his separation from their mother, Adhuna and if it was difficult for them.
Farhan Akhtar conveyed that it wasn’t easy for Shakya and Akira because they thought his relationship with Adhuna was ‘solid and perfect’ before it became ‘fractured.’ He acknowledged that his girls were somewhat resentful and angry about what had transpired. The ‘Dil Chahta Hai‘ director continued by saying that they will eventually find comfort.
He said, “I feel tremendously guilty towards them when Aduna and I are divorced because it had nothing to do with them. So they are the kind of like collateral damage in some emotional way.”
Farhan Akhtar with his second wife Shibani and daughters – Shakya, Akira
Farhan and Adhuna ended their sixteen-year-long marriage in 2017. He started dating VJ Shibani Dandekar, and in 2022 they were married in the presence of their loved ones.
Regarding his career, Farhan Akhtar made his debut in Rock On! As an actor, Farhan has appeared in films such as Shaadi Ke Side Effects, Karthik Calling Karthik, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dhadakne Do, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, and more. He wore the director’s hat for Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna starrer Dil Chahta Hai for the first time. In addition, Farhan has directed Don 2, starring Shah Rukh Khan. He and Ritesh Sidhwani recently produced Madgoan Express, Kunal Kemmu’s directorial debut earlier this year.