Avantika Malik recently shared an intimate and heartfelt account of her emotional journey through her divorce from Bollywood actor Imran Khan. In an interview with Janice Sequeira, Avantika opened up about the complexities of their separation, how she coped during that turbulent time, and the lessons she learned from the experience. The couple, who were together for nearly two decades and share a daughter named Imaara, went through their separation during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding another layer of difficulty to an already emotional situation.
Avantika reflected on how deeply entrenched her emotional dependency was on Imran, revealing that she once believed she would not be able to survive without him. “It’s just two people growing apart, it’s not the worst thing in the world. I would feel that if my marriage broke, I would die. I felt that I would not survive one day without this guy. I was convinced that I will die,” she said. When the final decision to separate was made, Avantika described the moment as feeling like a death in the family. The lack of her own income at the time added to the fear and uncertainty she felt, though she acknowledged the privilege of having a supportive family that ensured she was never at risk of being without shelter or resources.
Avantika candidly discussed the progression from separation to eventual divorce. Unlike what some might expect, the process wasn’t linear or clearly defined. “It wasn’t that structured. We kind of decided to separate for a while before deciding to divorce. There was a fair bit of time,” she shared. Much of this transition occurred during the challenging period of the COVID-19 lockdown, which made the emotional and logistical aspects of their decision even more complex. Drawing from her own upbringing, Avantika noted that her parents' divorce helped her process her own. “My parents are divorced, to begin with, so it wasn’t too difficult to address, or something that made me very uncomfortable,” she said. She admired her mother’s dignity and grace in handling divorce and carried that perspective into her own experience. “It’s not embarrassing to me,” she added.
Discussing the foundation of her relationship with Imran, Avantika pointed out that they met when they were just 19 years old. Over the years, a sense of co-dependency naturally developed. She admitted that she couldn’t even book an airline ticket by herself during the early years, having grown used to being with someone whose life was much larger and more public. “As somebody who has ‘daddy issues’, of course it’s going to colour the way I look at men,” she explained, referring to how early experiences influence emotional connections and dependency in adulthood. The societal perception of their relationship also weighed heavily on her. Avantika described the public image of their marriage as that of a “golden couple.” She felt a tremendous sense of guilt when their relationship ended, worrying about disappointing the people who admired their bond. “I felt that I had disappointed everybody in my life. It was very, very, very hard. And it took me a very long time to not carry that responsibility and disappointment,” she confessed.
Despite their separation, Avantika and Imran have remained committed to providing a stable and loving environment for their daughter Imaara. Avantika recalled some of the early questions their daughter asked, especially trying to understand the implications of their split. “Initially, she had a lot of questions. She was like, ‘Does that mean I’m going to get a new mumma?’ I was like, ‘No, darling, you’re stuck with this one,’” she shared with a smile. The ex-couple has taken a cooperative approach to co-parenting, ensuring that Imaara spends equal time with both of them. “What Imran and I did well was that we were very consistent about her spending time with the both of us. We have joint custody. She spends half her week with me, half her week with him,” Avantika stated. This balance and mutual respect in co-parenting have helped ease the transition for their daughter.
Avantika’s candid discussion serves as a powerful reminder that even the most admired relationships can go through difficult changes. However, growth, healing, and mutual respect can redefine how relationships evolve, especially when children are involved. Her perspective encourages acceptance of change and shows the importance of emotional resilience in the face of personal upheaval. Avantika Malik’s journey through heartbreak and healing offers valuable insight into the emotional complexity of divorce, especially in the public eye. Her courage in sharing her vulnerability is not only inspiring but also provides comfort and perspective to others navigating similar experiences.
