Singer Kumar Sanu has made headlines multiple times due to his hit songs but this time his personal life is the reason. His ex-wife Rita Bhattacharya recently made some shocking and disturbing claims about their past. Married in the late 1980s, Rita spoke about the challenges she faced during their marriage, especially while pregnant with their third child, Jaan Kumar Sanu. She claimed that the period after the success of Aashiqui was very difficult for her, as Sanu’s behaviour towards her changed drastically.
‘I struggled for food and medical care during my pregnancy’
In a recent interview with Film Window, Rita said she felt neglected during her pregnancy, had no freedom, and even struggled to get basic things like food and medical care. “We didn’t have any money or transportation when we came to Mumbai. It was completely zero. He used to wear a lungi at that time. I pushed him to go and struggle in Bombay, and we used to sleep on the floor without a fan,” she said in the interview with Film Window. She added that after Aashiqui became a hit and Sanu began earning well, he became ill-mannered and distant from her.
Kumar Sanu’s extramarital affair
Rita also accused Sanu of having an extramarital affair during their marriage, which was a heartbreak for her. “He took me to court on the basis of cruelty when I was pregnant with Jaan. He even had an affair during that time. I felt like my whole world had crushed, and my family was shocked,” she shared in the same interview. According to Rita, she was never allowed to step out of the house or take care of herself, including basic activities like visiting a parlour.
Rita’s role in Kumar Sanu’s success
She also reflected on her role in Sanu’s early career. “He is a great singer, but as a human being, it would be best to talk about him as little as possible. He was never ambitious. It was my dream to make him a singer. I pushed him and helped Kumar Sanu become Kumar Sanu,” she said in an interview with Film Window. Despite helping him achieve fame, Rita revealed that she was treated poorly by Sanu and his family.
Family problems during pregnancy
Rita shared that during her third pregnancy, she went through difficult times, often having to manage everything on her own without support. “They even locked the kitchen storage. I sent the watchman, got one kg rice, and cooked food for myself. They stopped getting milk for my children and told the pediatrician not to expect payment. It would be wrong to call them human beings,” she said in the interview with Film Window.
Kumar Sanu’s behaviour changed after divorce
Rita also spoke about Sanu’s change in behaviour after their divorce. “He avoided communication with me and Jaan even when our elder son Jiko was getting married. He likes it when his life is publicly discussed, positively or negatively, but he blocked us. That was very insulting,” she said. The couple divorced in 1994, and Rita received custody of their three children, Jiko, Jassi, and Jaan.
Kumar Sanu’s affair with actress Kunickaa Sadanand
Sanu’s affair with actress Kunickaa Sadanand also came to light during this period. The actress, currently seen on Bigg Boss 19, had previously shared details about her relationship with Sanu in an interview with Siddharth Kannan. Kunickaa, in an interview recalled meeting him while she was shooting a film in Ooty and admitted they developed a strong connection. She also revealed that Sanu was in a “very difficult relationship” with Rita at that time. According to Kunickaa, there were tough situations where Rita allegedly smashed her car with a hockey stick.
‘I felt sick all the time during my pregnancy’
Rita said she had never been able to discuss the reasons for their divorce with Sanu face-to-face. “Before dying, I want to know the reason directly from him. He used to make fun of me in court and came with those same people. I felt sick all the time during my pregnancy with Jaan. They tortured me, and I wouldn’t do anything because I was pregnant,” she told Film Window.
Despite her toxic marriage, she revealed how she helped Sanu achieve success. “He became a legend, and yet he dragged me to court on cruel grounds. It is something I never expected,” she said.