Anita Advani says she married Rajesh Khanna in a temple at their home: 'He applied sindoor'

Anita Advani’s long legal battle over her relationship with Rajesh Khanna has taken a major turn after the Bombay High Court dismissed her plea. The decision has sparked fresh discussion as it brings closure to a 14-year controversy around her claim of being the late actor’s wife.

Bombay High Court dismisses plea

The Bombay High Court has rejected actress Anita Advani’s appeal seeking legal recognition of her relationship with late superstar Rajesh Khanna as a marriage. The court upheld the earlier decision of the Dindoshi sessions court, effectively closing the case at this stage.A bench led by Justice Sharmila Deshmukh heard arguments from both sides before clearly stating that the appeal stands dismissed. The detailed order is still awaited.

The court also took note of arguments presented on behalf of Rajesh Khanna’s family, including Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna and Dimple Kapadia.

A 14-year legal battle

The dispute dates back to 2012, following Rajesh Khanna’s death, when Anita Advani claimed that she had shared a marital relationship with him. Over the years, the case remained a point of contention between her and the actor’s family. Anita maintained that her relationship with Rajesh Khanna was not merely companionship but akin to a marriage. She also alleged that she was removed from his iconic bungalow after his passing.

‘We got married privately’

In an interview with Meri Saheli last year, Anita Advani reiterated her claim that they had married privately, even if it was never publicly acknowledged.

“We got married privately, but in the film industry, no one talks about such things openly. Everyone says ‘we’re friends’ or ‘we’re in a relationship’ or something else. But it was already reported in the media that I was with him, so neither of us felt the need to go and publicly announce that we were married. We never felt that need.”

She went on to describe what she called their wedding ceremony at home. “We had a small temple in our home. I had a mangalsutra made, gold with black beads. He made me wear it. Then he applied sindoor and said, ‘From today, you are my responsibility.’ That’s how our wedding happened one night, just like that.”

Relationship claims and allegations

Alongside her claims of marriage, Anita also spoke about the nature of their relationship. She said it began before Rajesh Khanna met Dimple Kapadia, though they did not marry at the time because she was very young.

She also shared that she observed Karva Chauth fasts for him, describing a relationship that, in her view, carried the markers of a marriage. At the same time, she alleged that the relationship had moments of conflict and violence. Speaking on the YouTube channel Avanti Films, she said, “But he would sometimes hit me. So I would hit him back. That was my reflex action. He would complain that my nail cut him.”