Just a few weeks back, actor Arjun Kapoor opened up about his non-existential relationship with his stepmum Sridevi.
In the emotional tell-all, he shared that as a 10-year-old he saw his father leave him and his family behind for another woman. He also shared that it was his mother and his younger sister who helped each other get over the trying times in their lives.
The relationship doesn't really exist
"My sister, Anshula, has stood by me like a rock. She has gone through far worse. She's younger than me. I still had 11 years with my father living in the house. I had my mother living with me for 25 years but she only got 20. Imagine a child who has been through a life where the father couldn't be physically around all the time after the age of 5. And the mother who was there physically all the time and then after 20 years, she wasn't there. Imagine the psychological scarring of that child," he said.
The 2 States actor also categorically stated that even though his family has warmed upto Sridevi, he has no relations with her or her daughters Khushi and Janhvi.
"We don't really meet and spend time together so it (relationship) doesn't really exist," he said.
Sridevi's marriage started with insecurities
While his side of the reality was harsh and understandably heart-breaking, Sridevi's 'happily ever after' wasn't so happy after all as well.
Often labeled a home-wrecker, Sridevi had to face some tough questions and even had a public showdown with husband Boney Kapoor.
In a throwback interview that has now gone viral, Boney's ex-wife and late producer Mona Kapoor alleged that there was nothing left in her marriage because Sridevi was already with a child.
"He (Boney) was 10 years older to me. I was 19 when I married him. So I literally grew up with him. Ours was a 13-year-old marriage. So it came as a shock when I realised that my husband was in love with somebody else... There was nothing left in the relationship to give it a chance because Sridevi was already with a child," she said in an interview to DNA.
Sridevi yelled at Boney for spending time with his kids
In fact, the reports also suggested that Sridevi was so insecure about the illegitimacy of her relationship that she has a huge showdown with Boney.
"It rankles her no end that Mona is still Boney's legally wedded wife, while she herself continues to remain his mistress, a temple wedding notwithstanding," the article reportedly stated.
And when Boney took his then wife Mona and his two children out, Sridevi was left upset and angry.
She reportedly hurled abuses at him. "You b-, you @!#*!#!. How can you do this to me? If you love your kids and wife so much then why don't you shift back into that house again? You cheat, you liar..." she allegedly said.
Neighbours said both Sridevi and Boney were at fault
At the time, a neighbour told the entertainment magazine, "She should understand that Boney is quite attached to his kids and that there is nothing wrong if he meets them or takes them out for a picnic. After all, he is their father."
While another neighbour said, "Boney should understand Sri's frame of mind. He should understand her insecurities and all that she is going through because of her illegitimate status of their marriage."
But this was in 1997. Today, things may look better with the family, Boney's kids Arjun and Anshula Kapoor still haven't accepted her and there is a reason which our expert explains.
How remarriage affects kids
We spoke to Anuja Kapur, a Delhi-based clinical psychologist explains, "Stepmothers in the noncustodial father's household integrate easily by becoming a friend to the children, but when a custodial father remarries, the problems for the stepmother can be considerable."
"The children, especially older children, might not accept her or recognize her authority. They resent her, and if she dares to bear children with their father, they resent the babies, too," she adds.
Read: Sangeeta Bijlani: "Keep your husband happy so he won't stray" puts too much pressure on women
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[All images courtesy: Instagram]
