In the glitzy world of Bollywood, where relationships often unfold under the public eye, Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon’s romantic history has remained one of the most talked-about affairs of the 90s.
The two, who began dating in 1995 and were briefly engaged, eventually parted ways under dramatic circumstances. Recent reflections by Raveena have shed light on the factors that led to their breakup, including a career-or-love ultimatum issued by Akshay, as well as rumors of infidelity.
Raveena Akshay relationship tested by career
In an interview with Stardust Magazine, Raveena Tandon revealed how her rising career became a point of contention in her relationship with Akshay Kumar. She recalled that during their three-year relationship, they broke up multiple times before finally calling it quits. According to her, Akshay asked her to choose between her flourishing career and their relationship.
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“In three years, we had split a million times,” Raveena shared. “I began focusing on my career again, and it started picking up. Then Akshay came up with this new funda, saying, ‘Choose between your career or me.’ This time, I turned around and told him, ‘I am choosing my career because the last time I chose you, see what I got.'”
She expressed her frustration over the lack of support, drawing comparisons to other Bollywood couples who balanced their careers and personal lives. “If you are willing to stand by me like Sajid (Nadiadwala) is standing by Tabu, it will be great. Everyone knows the kind of hard work that goes into a career.”
Infidelity allegations
Raveena also accused Akshay of infidelity, claiming she caught him in compromising situations with actresses Sushmita Sen and Rekha during their time together. While Akshay’s romantic life was often in the headlines, his links with Shilpa Shetty added another layer of complexity to their split.
Referring to Akshay’s statements about Shilpa, Raveena remarked, “It was his way of saying ‘See Raveena!’ But it doesn’t make a damned difference to me. How come he claims he never asked me to leave my ready-made career?”
Their tumultuous breakup left both stars moving on to different paths. Akshay married Twinkle Khanna in 2001, while Raveena tied the knot with businessman Anil Thadani.
Despite their rocky past, Raveena Tandon and Akshay Kumar have managed to keep their professional lives separate from their personal history. The duo recently reunited on-screen for the upcoming film Welcome to the Jungle, slated for release in December this year. Their last collaboration was in Police Force: An Inside Story in 2004.
