Shibani Dandekar Reveals How Couples Therapy Strengthened Her Marriage with Farhan Akhtar

The TV personality opens up about attending therapy with Farhan Akhtar, starting before their engagement, and how it continues to be a vital part of their relationship.

Shibani Dandekar has shared that couples therapy has been a pivotal aspect of her relationship with actor-director Farhan Akhtar. In a candid conversation on Rhea Chakraborty’s podcast Chapter 2, Shibani revealed that they began attending therapy sessions together soon after getting engaged, and remarkably, even showed up for a session just two days after their wedding.

Reflecting on the start of their therapy journey, Shibani said, “We started couples therapy about six months before or after we got engaged. It wasn’t like one person pushing the other into it. We both felt it was a smart and proactive step for us.”

In a humorous anecdote, Shibani recounted how they went to therapy just days after tying the knot. “Our appointment was on Wednesday, and we got married on Monday. When we walked in, our therapist was shocked and said, ‘You’re here already?’” she laughed.

Comparing therapy to maintaining physical fitness, Shibani emphasized its ongoing importance in their marriage. “It’s like going to the gym; you have to keep working on it. Sometimes, we go every couple of weeks, and there are days where we have nothing to discuss. Other times, we walk in needing more than an hour because there’s a lot to talk about,” she shared.

She also mentioned how they handle conflicts with the help of their therapist. “Sometimes, we might have a fight at home, and we know we’ve got a session coming up. So, we hold off until we’re with our therapist. I’ll want to jump right into it, but Farhan will say, ‘Let’s wait until Wednesday to talk it out properly.’”

Shibani’s insights shed light on the value of therapy in maintaining a healthy, communicative relationship, even for high-profile couples like her and Farhan Akhtar.