So much gossip this week about break-ups!  I don’t believe basically any of it, but I still think it is worth talking about because of how it is reported and why it is reported and what that means socially/industrially.

(yes, I will be tying it all together with Raajkumar in Pakeezah as shown in the header image)

Break-up 1: Farhan and his wife.  A couple of days ago some vague comments about there being a “real” reason behind it started making the rounds.  And then that turned into discussion of a “closeness” with a co-star.  And now people are coming right out and saying it is Aditi Rao Hydari from Wazir.  I’m super interested in the progression of that story.  Clearly, the gossip sites had a name and details all along, but they started with some light weight easily deniable versions, waiting for a statement to be issued or word to come down from on high that this was not to be touched.  But, nope, nothing!  So they gave it 24 hours, and then started naming names.  Compare this with Hrithik and Kangana, Kangana volunteers a comment in an interview with Pinkvilla, Pinkvilla prints it, and within hours Hrithik has issued an insultingly emphatic denial.  Which backfired on him, of course, and now everyone is talking about it even more.  But it did play to his fan base who loves the Hrithik as the wronged husband narrative.  I think the difference might be here that Farhan’s fanbase would actually be fine with him having a dying marriage and making a connection with a co-star.  So they decided, better to just let it ride and wait for the rumors to die of their own accord.  Or, of course, it could all be true and there will be an engagement announcement imminently.

Break-up 2:  Arbaaz and Malaika and Arjun.  Okay, this one is so juicy that I kind of suspect it was all made up to benefit everybody’s careers.  A few years back, in 2008, Arbaaz and Malaika actually spread divorce rumors themselves, and then announced at a press conference that it was all to get publicity for their upcoming film which dealt with infidelity in a marriage.  It was the strangest thing.  And now they have another reality show starting soon, which they are co-hosting, and suddenly rumors are everywhere that they are splitting up.  So, hmmm.

And then the word comes out that the other man is ARJUN KAPOOR!!!!  Which is when it crosses over to “wait, I am pretty sure this can’t be true.”  Arjun, of course, is basically an adopted member of the Khan family, and used to date Arpita Khan (Arbaaz’s little sister).  I mean, obviously, he would know Malaika, and I suppose they could have fallen in love, but it would just be so weird!  And it is such an odd love triangle, because it somehow makes them all look good.  Makes Arjun look like a total stud for seducing a super sexy older woman.  Makes Malaika look good for attracting a rising star younger man.  And makes Arbaaz come off well as the wronged husband.  So, if there is an announcement in a week that it was all a publicity stunt/joke on the media again, I wouldn’t be terribly surprised.

Break-up 3: Sohail and Seema Khan.  This is just such a huge coincidence.  Both Khan brothers have potential marriage problems the same week?  One of them has to be fake to take the weight off the rumors about the other.  But I don’t really know which one it would be, this rumor is based on basically nothing and says that Sohail and Huma Qureshi are having an affair.  On the other hand, I kind of believe it more because there is nothing to support it.  If everyone is reporting it, and no one has moved out of the house (as is rumored about Malaika) or said anything on twitter or anything like that, the rumors must be pretty consistent.  And I could more easily see a Khan brother having a fling with an actress than a Khan wife leaving her husband for an unproven actor 10 years younger than her.

Break-up 4: Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli.  First, this is interesting just because even ten years ago a break-up of a dating relationship would never have been reported.  Because the dating relationship would never have been confirmed to begin with.  Remember when Kat and Salman broke up?  It was all very unclear and uncertain, just like it was unclear and uncertain that they were ever actually dating.  But now everyone knows and openly talks about pre-marital relationships.  Second, the reported reason for the split is that Virat wants to get married and Anushka doesn’t.  Two things are super interesting about that.  First, that it is still accepted as a truth that a wife can’t work, while a girlfriend can.  It’s super regressive, but everyone knows it is the case.  Directors don’t give the same kind of roles to married women, and they public expects them to work less and start having kids, and criticizes them if they don’t.  But second, the tone of the articles I am reading is not pejorative towards Anuskha for making this choice.  Which is huge!  That people just kind of accept a young woman might want to keep working and focused on her career for a while longer, even if her boyfriend is ready to get married.  So that’s cool.

Break-up 5: Ranbir-Kat continues to dominate headlines.  And poor Kat, once again, is stuck in the spotlight.  She is in the middle of the Fitoor promotions, just like she was in the middle of the Dhoom 3 promos when the bikini photos that confirmed their relationship came out.  While the Anushka split shows some nice trends as to how these pre-marital relationships are reported, Kat’s story is not so great in terms of India’s attitude.  For one thing, their shared apartment is constantly being referred to as a “love-nest”.  Come on, guys!  Can’t you just call it an apartment?  Plus, the rumors that are making the rounds now are that Ranbir cheated on her with Alia, and that he moved out first and is celebrating with parties and fun times.  If they hadn’t been living together, or at least if they hadn’t been openly living together, it would be reported as poor heartbroken fiancee Kat being deceived by evil dog Ranbir.  But as it is, plus with the whole rumors that his parents never really approved of her and everyone knowing she was with Salman before him, it just comes out as a “why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free?” kind of story.  Of course, Ranbir could squelch that by just making a nice statement indicating he still respects and cares for her.  But, nope!  He’s not going to! Just like it took him forever to issue a statement about the bikini pictures!  And, just like then, Salman is stepping up and publicly respecting her.  Actually, it’s very Tawaif-like, isn’t it?  Or at least, the Tawaif narratives as shown on film.  Think Pakeezah, where Ashok Kumar was never able to confront society and his family and demand respect for older Meena Kumari, leaving her to die of a broken heart.  Where as Raajkumar had no problem standing up for younger Meena Kumari and treating her with the respect she deserved, which was all that was needed to force society to treat her with respect as well.  So, in this case, Ranbir Kapoor is being a total Ashok Kumar, while Salman is such a Raajkumar (there’s a weird sentence!)