Bombay High Court rejects Anita Advani’s plea to recognise her relationship with Rajesh Khanna as marriage

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal filed by actor Anita Advani seeking recognition of her relationship with late superstar Rajesh Khanna as a marriage.

Justice Sharmila Deshmukh dismissed Advani's appeal challenging a Dindoshi court’s rejection of her civil suit.

In 2017, the Dindoshi Civil Court had dismissed Advani’s suit on technical grounds, following which she preferred an appeal before the High Court.

After hearing arguments advanced by counsel for Advani as well as lawyers representing Dimple Kapadia, Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna, the High Court today dismissed the appeal.

“First appeal is dismissed,” the High Court stated.

A detailed copy of the judgment is awaited.

Advani and Kapadia have been engaged in multiple legal proceedings since 2012, including litigation arising out of Advani’s claim to have been in a relationship with Rajesh Khanna.

Advani had also lodged a criminal complaint alleging domestic violence against Kapadia, Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna before a Magistrate court in Bandra.

She had claimed that she was evicted from Khanna’s bungalow, Aashirwad, following his death.

In 2015, a coordinate bench of the Bombay High Court quashed the domestic violence proceedings against Kapadia, Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar, holding that Advani’s relationship with Rajesh Khanna did not qualify as one “in the nature of marriage” under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.