Shilpa Shetty Reflects on Past Heartbreak with Akshay Kumar

The actress candidly discusses overcoming personal turmoil during their high-profile breakup.

Shilpa Shetty, a prominent figure for those who grew up in the 1990s, continues to inspire with her exceptional fitness and enduring charm. Shetty, who began her acting career alongside Shah Rukh Khan in the 1993 film Baazigar, was among the leading actresses of that era. Her personal life, particularly her relationship with fellow actor Akshay Kumar, also attracted significant media attention.

Rumors of a romance between Shetty and Kumar surfaced during the filming of Main Khiladi Tu Anari, where their on-screen chemistry was palpable. Both actors were well-established at the time, making their relationship a hot topic in the industry. However, their high-profile romance came to an end, reportedly because Kumar chose to pursue a relationship with Twinkle Khanna.

The duo collaborated on films such as Jaanwar and Dhadkan. In a 2000 interview, Shetty opened up about the emotional challenges she faced during this period. She shared, “It has been a rough period, personally. But I’m glad that the ordeal is over. After every dark cloud, there’s always a silver lining. All this while, though things were going well professionally, my personal life was pulling me down. It feels good that it’s finally behind me.”

The breakup occurred while they were filming the romantic drama Dhadkan. Despite her personal distress, Shetty remained committed to her professional responsibilities, ensuring that the film’s production was not affected. She explained, “When you love someone and, all along, don’t realize that you are being taken for a ride, it can be very annoying. I wanted our film to get over and be released so that it wouldn’t come in the way of my producers. I couldn’t harass them just because my personal life was turning into shambles. So, I decided to wait till Dhadkan was done with.”

Reports suggest that Shetty and Khanna were friends when Kumar allegedly became involved with Khanna. Reflecting on this, Shetty expressed no ill will towards Khanna, stating, “What’s her fault if my man was cheating on me? There is no point blaming any other woman; it was entirely his fault.”

Both actors have since moved on. Shilpa Shetty is now married to businessman Raj Kundra, while Akshay Kumar is happily married to Twinkle Khanna.