New Delhi: Veteran actress Zarina Wahab has stood by her husband Aditya Pancholi through decades of controversies, extramarital affairs, and abuse allegations.
In a candid interview with Lehran Retro, the actress opened up about their 30-year-long marriage, defending Aditya against accusations made by his past girlfriends, including Pooja Bedi and Kangana Ranaut.
Zarina, 65, married Aditya in 1986 after falling in love on the sets of Kalank Ka Tika and admitted she was aware of his affairs. “I was always prepared for him to have affairs. I never questioned him because I cared more about how he treated me at home,” she said.
Aditya Pancholi’s past relationships
Aditya’s personal life has often been under scrutiny. In 1993, his highly publicised relationship with Pooja Bedi ended after her maid accused him of sexual abuse. Years later, Aditya’s alleged relationship with the Queen actress sparked headlines, with both parties levelling accusations. Kangana claimed she faced physical abuse during their time together, while Aditya accused her of financial exploitation.
Zarina, however, dismissed the abuse allegations against her husband. “He has never been an abusive husband. He’s a sweetheart. His girlfriends accused him of these things because they didn’t get what they wanted,” she stated.
Aditya Pancholi and Kangana Ranaut
On Kangana, the veteran actress revealed that she always treated the actress with kindness. “Kangana often visited our home. He was very nice to her. I don’t know what went wrong, but I could see what he couldn’t,” she shared.
In 2019, Kangana filed a police complaint against Aditya, accusing him of assault and exploitation dating back 13 years. In response, Aditya filed a defamation case against the Queen actress. Despite the legal battles, Zarina continues to stand by her husband’s side.
Reflecting on their life together, Zarina praised Aditya as both a husband and a father. “He is a great father and a good husband. He has never stopped me from doing anything-be it films or travelling,” she said. For the unversed, Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab share two children, Sana and Sooraj Pancholi.