Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan file for divorce

Mumbai: Are they together or are they not? Everyone in Bollywood not to mention their gazillion fans across the country wondered about actors Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan’s relationship status. Well, all speculation was put to rest on Tuesday after the couple filed for divorce before the principal judge of the Family Court at Bandra-Kurla Complex on Tuesday.

Sources from the court said that this was the second hearing, confirming rumours that they were going to split. The Family Court has given the duo six months to reconcile and sort out their differences before going for divorce proceedings. They visited the court for the first time on Tuesday in connection with the divorce petition.

After a 15-minute hearing, the judge as per the rules gave the couple six months for undertaking marriage-counselling sessions after which the marriage could be dissolved.

The petition filed by the couple read: “We have been living separately as stipulated by the Act and as we have not been able to live together it has been mutually decided to dissolve the marriage.”

Sources from the court said that the judge has asked them appear before the court on May 11, 2017. In the event that they are unable to reconcile till then, the couple will probably get divorced on the same date.

Clad in a white salwar- kameez Malaika and Arbaaz, who was sporting his signature blue jeans and white shirt arrived at the court around noon. They were called into the chamber of principal judge I.J. Nanda at around 12.30 pm. The hearing subsequently lasted for 15 minutes, during which the couple affirmed that they wanted to separate by mutual consent.

After the hearing, the couple refused to talk to the media and quickly got into their car and sped away. Despite repeated attempts via phone calls and text messages, Arbaaz and Malaika were unavailable for comment.

As per the divorce petition filed by the couple, they have sought separation under section 10A of the Divorce Act of 1869. Section 10A of the Act stipulates: “Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made there under, a petition for dissolution of marriage may be presented to the district court by both the parties to a marriage together, whether such marriage was solemnised before or after the commencement of the Indian Divorce (Amendment) Act, 2001, on the ground that they have been living separately for a period of two years or more, that they have not been able to live together and they have mutually agreed that the marriage should be dissolved”.

The duo had filed the divorce petition on November 8 and the same was admitted on November 19. The next hearing was scheduled on for November 29 wherein both had to be present in person and appear before the judge.