By Grace Cyril,News18

Copyright news18

Singer Kumar Sanu’s ex-wife Rita Bhattacharya has made serious claims about her past with the popular playback singer. Rita, who married Sanu in the late 1980s, spoke in a recent interview about the problems she faced during their marriage. She said the most difficult time came when she was pregnant with their third child, Jaan Kumar Sanu.
Rita explained that after the success of Aashiqui, Sanu’s behaviour towards her changed. She alleged that she was treated badly, not given freedom, and even struggled for food and medical care. She also said that during this time, Sanu had an affair and still dragged her to court, which left her heartbroken.
Rita Bhattacharya breaks down
Speaking to Film Window, Rita alleged that the singer dragged her into a legal battle when she was pregnant. She further accused him of being unfaithful. “He took me to court during my pregnancy. He even had an affair during that time, that came out today. And, he dragged me to court? I was very young at that time, I felt like my whole world crushed, and my family was shocked. He did such a huge party a year ago saying I was the reason behind his success.”
Tortured during pregnancy
Rita described the difficulties she faced while carrying their son Jaan. She said she was barred from stepping outside, denied permission to visit beauty parlours, and not allowed to maintain friendships. Makeup was also reportedly prohibited. Her only support at the time, she said, came from her sister-in-law.
“Ghar se jab bahar jaate toh kitchen ke shelves lock kar dete. Mujhe chawal khane ke liye bhabhi ke ghar jaana pada. I bought a handful of rice and then cooked khichdi at my sister-in-law’s home, and then we used to have food.”
Rita also claimed she was given only limited money and had difficulties securing medical care. “Mujhe din ke Rs 100 dete the aur doctors ko bhi mana kar diya paise dene se. When I used to order baby food, toh the shopkeeper used to say ki nahi bhej sakta kyuki saab ne mana kiya hai.”
In her account, Rita said that her court appearances with Kumar Sanu were marked by ridicule. “When I was pregnant with Jaan, I was not even fed properly and felt sick all the time,” she revealed.
She alleged that Sanu would mock her in court, often accompanied by the same group of people.
Kumar Sanu’s affair with Kunickaa Sadanand
Kumar Sanu married Rita Bhattacharya in the late 1980s. The couple had three children together before their relationship ended in divorce in 1994. Around that period, Sanu was also dating actress Kunickaa Sadanand, who is currently seen on Bigg Boss 19. It was an extramarital affair for the singer. Speaking about the same, Kunickaa had earlier sat down for an interview wherein she reflected on her then relationship. Recalling a traumatising incident, she also shared how Ritu once smashed her car with a hockey stick.
In a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Kunickaa Sadanand revealed the first time she met Kumar Sanu. The actress, at that time, was trying to make a mark in the industry, shooting for a film in Ooty while the singer was on vacation. Admitting that she was attracted to him, Kunickaa opened up on the ‘strong connection’ they eventually developed. As per the actress, Kumar Sanu was in a “very difficult relationship” with his wife Rita at that time. On the trip, he was joined by his sister and nephew.
Sharing an incident that “brought them closer,” Kunickaa Sadanand recalled when Kumar Sanu got drunk and attempted to jump from a hotel window. “He started crying and he wanted to jump from the hotel’s window. He was very depressed. We held him down,” she shared. After the trip, the singer started living separately from his wife, paving the way for their relationship. Shedding light on the bond shared between the two, she admitted to motivating him to take care of his fitness and fashion. They continued to date each other for five years but never came out in the open, she claimed. “I was like a wife to him, I considered him like my husband,” the actress said.
All this while, Kumar Sanu’s wife was upset with them, as Kunickaa Sadanand told during the interaction. The situation worsened after there was a delay in financial aid for her as the singer was supposed to give her money for the kids. Expressing her rage over the same, Kumar Sanu former wife once smashed the actress’ car. “His wife smashed my car with a hockey stick. She would come outside my house and scream. But I understood her. She wanted money for her children, she wasn’t wrong. She said she didn’t want him back,” she said.
Kunickaa Sadanand and Kumar Sanu, despite their closeness, eventually broke up and moved on.