Imran Khan On His ‘Unhealthy’ Marriage with Avantika Malik!
In a candid conversation with Times of India, Imran got real on his separation from Avantika Malik and the deeply personal mental health journey that led him to walk away from a marriage he realised was no longer healthy for either of them!
Imran Khan On His ‘Unhealthy’ Marriage with Avantika Malik!
Imran and Avantika’s love story once felt straight out of a Bollywood script. Childhood sweethearts who began dating at just 19, the two grew up together before tying the knot on January 10, 2011.
They welcomed their daughter, Imara, on June 9, 2014. However, after eight years of marriage, the couple separated in 2019. Today, Imara is 11, and Imran shares that his bond with her has only grown stronger through it all.
(Also Read: Who Is Lekha Washington? Meet Imran Khan’s Girlfriend Who Helped Him Heal)
(Also Read: Is Imran Khan’s Estranged Wife Avantika Malik Dating Someone?)
What many people do not know is that Imran’s mental health journey began much earlier, around 2016, long before the divorce. As he started working on himself, he slowly came to a difficult realisation; his marriage had become an unhealthy space.
“I developed the understanding that my dynamic with my partner was unhealthy. Our relationship began when we were very young, and we didn’t have the life experience to understand what was healthy or unhealthy in a partnership. Once I became more conscious, I saw we were stuck in a cycle we couldn’t break. Any change required both of us, and it wasn’t happening. I understood that in order to be the healthiest, best version of myself, I have to remove myself from this relationship.”
“I Don’t Blame Anyone… Choosing To End It Was A Turning Point” – Imran Khan On Marriage With Avantika Malik
Imran is also keen to clear the air around a long-standing misconception. Contrary to popular belief, his divorce was not what caused his mental health struggles. In fact, the hardest phase of his life was the final years of the marriage itself.
“I don’t blame anyone. I’ve been out of public sight. In the absence of me actually being there and speaking, gossip just goes about and things get muddled and conflated. Many assumed my divorce triggered my crisis, but the worst years were actually the last couple of years of my marriage. Choosing to end it was a turning point-it allowed me to heal and grow. It is because we were not in sync; we were not able to support each other being the best version of ourselves. Whatever the hurt and trauma that comes from separation, it is still preferable to remaining in an unhealthy environment.”
Imran Khan Is Now Dating Lekha Washington
On the personal front, Imran is now dating actress Lekha Washington, with reports suggesting the two grew close during the 2020 lockdown. Professionally too, he is gearing up for a fresh start, with a Netflix film opposite Bhumi Pednekar, directed by Danish Aslam.
At the end of the day, Imran’s story is not about a failed marriage. It is about choosing healing, prioritising mental health, and learning that sometimes walking away is the bravest thing you can do!
(Also Read: Imran Khan To Make Bollywood Comeback With Bhumi Pednekar!)
