Latest news with #KiranaCounselling
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘He gave me an…': When Rekha spoke about what she considers the greatest compliment Amitabh Bachchan ever gave her; how working with someone you admire changes you
Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha's electrifying on-screen chemistry, especially in Silsila (1981), has long fascinated audiences — fuelling conversations, headlines, and speculation for decades. While Silsila remains their most iconic and talked-about film, the duo shared the screen in several other hits that captured their effortless rapport including Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Suhaag, Do Anjaane and Ram Balram. Their pairing became symbolic of a golden era in Hindi cinema. But beyond the characters and camera lenses, Rekha once opened up about something more personal — how working closely with a co-star over many years can shape you. In an interview with Rediff marking her 25 years in the film industry, Rekha reflected on her journey and shared insights that resonate beyond fame. 'Look, when we started working together, we were at a very impressionable stage. Each one left his or her impression on the other. If you saw a crowd in those days from a top angle, you just saw a whole sea of heads with the Amitabh hairstyle,' she said. Whether traces of Bachchan's style showed in her performances, she admitted, 'I don't deny it.' Recalling a moment of critique, she added, 'I agreed with him,' when told she had mimicked Bachchan in Madam X. She also revealed what she considers the greatest compliment he ever gave her: 'I think the only compliment he has knowingly or unknowingly paid me was that he gave me an opportunity to work with a great co-star like him. That is the biggest compliment I have ever received.' Jai Arora, counselling psychologist and co-founder of Kirana Counselling, tells 'It's incredibly common, more than we realise, for people to unconsciously adopt little things from those around them. A way of laughing, a dressing style, even how someone pauses mid-sentence. When we're at an impressionable age or stage, like starting a new job, falling in love, or entering the public eye, we're like soft clay, and you also want to be assimilated into the existing circle and be liked. We absorb. And often, the people who leave the biggest imprint are those we admire the most. And in creative fields where energy constantly bounces off each other, it's natural to start carrying echoes of someone else's presence. It's not imitation, it's influence.' For many of us, being chosen — being seen, included, collaborated with — feels far deeper than any spoken admiration. Especially when it comes from someone we look up to. It says, 'I trust you. You belong beside me.' 'That unspoken respect stays with us long after the project ends. This can also sound like a mark of respect and validation of your work or character, that 'you're in the inner circle now,'' explains Arora. 'Both are possible,' says Arora. 'Once a certain version of you gets social validation, it is easy to associate the limelight or attention to that trait only and not you as a whole. And hence, when, not if, with time one would change, this can feel like a loss of identity.' But more often, admiration just adds layers — it lets us experiment, try on someone else's strength, rhythm, or poise until we find what feels like 'us.'
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘I don't want to suffer': Zarina Wahab opens up about marriage to Aditya Pancholi and his multiple alleged affairs; navigating complex relationships
Zarina Wahab recently spoke about her decades-long marriage with actor Aditya Pancholi. Recalling their early connection on the sets of a film in a conversation with Nayandeep Rakshit, she shared, 'We got married within 15-20 days of meeting each other. We were working on Nari Hari film. This was the time I met him. He was a very good looking boy. He had a scene to shoot, where he had to cry. He started to cry and didn't stop at all. We even had to stop the shooting for that day. We sat in the same car when I held his hand and told him 'don't cry'. At that time, he held my hand tighter and within 15 days we got married. Everybody said, she has married such a good looking man, he will leave her in a week. And look, it's been 38 years.' Over the years, Aditya Pancholi has made headlines for his alleged affairs, including his highly publicised relationship with actor Kangana Ranaut. But Wahab remains unfazed by public speculation. 'This is all a phase which comes and goes. I never take these phases seriously as I know he will never get serious with anyone else as he loves me a lot.' She added, 'I don't care what he does outside, but when he enters the house, he is an excellent father and husband. And that's all that matters to me. I would have felt bad if only he brought his affairs home. A lot of men have affairs and still run a family. If I will start taking these things too seriously, and start fighting over it then I will suffer. I don't want to suffer, I love myself.' In the same interview, Zarina stated, 'I am very independent. Even If I had to live alone, I have money and properties in my name, but in reality I never thought of leaving him. We never discussed this.' Jai Arora, counselling psychologist and co-founder of Kirana Counselling, tells 'This skill of emotional compartmentalisation is extremely tough to master. In some long-standing relationships, especially where the emotional bond is deep or history runs long, individuals may choose to prioritise stability and shared life over betrayal. They may view the partner's external behaviour as a 'phase' or distraction, painful, yes, but not identity-defining for the relationship.' We need to keep in mind that this outlook on relationships is also something they either learnt while growing up or consciously chose to believe in. 'While this strategy can be emotionally sustainable for some, it often requires high emotional resilience and a strong internal narrative — one that centers on love, loyalty, or personal boundaries,' states Arora. Despite public opinion, Zarina insists she's with her partner by choice and not due to dependency. 'Emotional and financial independence can dramatically shift how one navigates relationship pain. It gives a person the ability to stay without feeling trapped, forgive without erasing self-respect, and define love on their own terms. It is also a subtle but strong reclaiming of agency in a culture that often perceives women in such situations as helpless,' notes Arora. He adds, 'All of us, according to our context- emotional bandwidth, attachment, are drawn and 'stuck' in relationships in our own unique ways. Navigating our challenges while maintaining our needs is the key.'
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘He had very mischievous eyes': Shikhar Dhawan and girlfriend Sophie Shine on the first time they met at a restaurant in Dubai; what finding new love after divorce looks like
Shikhar Dhawan, one of India cricket's most celebrated batters, has made his relationship with Sophie Shine official after months of speculation. Dhawan, who divorced Aesha Mukherjee in 2023 after 11 years of marriage, had kept his relationship under wraps until Sophie confirmed it via an Instagram post earlier this year. Speaking together for the first time in a promotional video for a skincare brand, the couple opened up about how they met and their first impressions. Recalling their first meeting, Dhawan shared, 'We met at a restaurant in Dubai and it was a great feeling. Sophie was wearing camouflage trousers and jacket. She was looking very beautiful.' When Sophie was asked what led to her attraction towards Dhawan when she saw him for the first time, she said, 'Definitely, his beautiful face. He had very mischievous eyes.' According to reports, the two were first spotted together at airports, and later at the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai, where Dhawan was serving as the tournament's brand ambassador. Since then, Sophie has accompanied the former cricketer to several IPL matches and lives with him in India. A professional product consultant, Sophie Shine was born in Ireland, holds a degree in marketing and management, and works as the second vice president at Northern Trust Corporation in Abu Dhabi. Jai Arora, counselling psychologist and co-founder of Kirana Counselling, tells 'Starting over after a divorce often means carrying forward both hope and hesitation. This gets more intense for public personalities, as comparisons and criticisms begin instantaneously.' Emotionally, he adds that individuals may struggle with trust issues, fear of repeating past patterns, or guilt, especially if children are involved. There's also a process of redefining one's identity outside the previous marriage. 'But a fresh relationship also brings a chance for healing, allowing one to apply lessons learned, communicate more openly, and create healthier emotional boundaries,' he states. First impressions often act as the initial spark. Arora notes, 'Physical attraction can trigger curiosity and a desire to know someone better. While looks may not sustain a long-term relationship, they can set the tone for early chemistry.' Interestingly, he notes that these 'initial perceptions' often become part of a couple's shared narrative, deepening emotional bonding. But lasting connections grow stronger through emotional intimacy, shared values, and mutual support rather than appearance alone.
Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Disgusted to call you our father': When Mahabharat actor Nitish Bharadwaj spoke about abuse and alienation in his marriage; impact on parent and children
The emotional toll of separation and divorce can be overwhelming, especially when children are involved. Actor Nitish Bharadwaj, best known for playing Krishna in BR Chopra's Mahabharat, shared a personal account of such a situation in an old interview, shedding light on the impact of parental alienation and emotional abuse within marriage. In conversation with Telly Talk India, when asked if he would ever marry again, Bharadwaj replied, 'In this marriage, I have faced extreme amounts of abuse of all sorts, and even now with parental alienation, my two children are being taken away from me. If I tell you only the two lines my 11-year-old daughter told me, 'Papa, we are disgusted to call you our father,' this is what one child told me.' Questioning how the relationship with his children deteriorated, he reflected, 'Why is the child saying this after doing everything?' He believes it is the result of alienation. Nitish added, 'It's a lie that I am asking for money. I'm asking for my money that I was cheated of. I feel I'm cheated. So today, it is my children's battle I'm fighting.' Despite the trauma, he hasn't lost faith in love or companionship. 'The institution of marriage is special to me. I believe in it. I have seen many, many, successful marriages including my parents' marriage.' Jai Arora, counselling psychologist and co-founder of Kirana Counselling, tells 'Parental alienation occurs when one parent manipulates or influences a child to reject the other parent without just cause and by feeding them biased information about the other parent. This can involve subtle messaging or direct character attacks. For the child, it can distort their understanding of love, trust, and attachment, leading to anxiety, guilt, identity confusion, and relationship issues later in life.' For the alienated parent, it's emotionally devastating. He adds, 'They may experience symptoms similar to grief, deep sadness, helplessness, and a prolonged sense of loss. Over time, it can also affect their mental health, self-esteem, and belief in their parenting ability.' 'Abuse, especially within intimate relationships, can leave deep wounds of self-doubt, shame, and fear. Therapy offers a space to process these wounds and reclaim self-worth,' notes Arora. It's equally important to build legal and emotional support systems — friends, lawyers, therapists — who can provide clarity when emotions are running high. 'Parents need to remind themselves that healing is not linear; setbacks will occur. Women in particular, due to societal conditioning, may jump into 'only taking care of their children' and not giving enough attention to their own needs after the separation. The focus must remain on modelling emotional regulation and healthy coping, for both parents and the children,' asserts Arora. Keep showing up, even in small ways — sending birthday cards, emails, or short messages that say 'I'm here, whenever you're ready.' Arora recommends, 'Try to look at and understand the place from where the comments are coming from. Parents should learn not to see these as attacks on the self but rather as an insight into the child's inner world.' He adds that when possible, involve a child therapist or family counsellor who can mediate and help restore communication without pressure. Over time, the quiet presence, not loud declarations, often rebuilds trust.
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘We separated due to…': What choreographer Prabhudeva and ex-wife Ramlath's story teaches us about emotional maturity after divorce
People rarely speak about their past relationships with grace, especially when the split was messy and played out in the public eye. But 14 years after her divorce from choreographer and filmmaker Prabhudeva, his ex-wife Ramlath finally broke her silence. In an interview with YouTube channel Aval Vikatan, she reflected on their separation and co-parenting journey without bitterness. 'We should have the maturity to accept whatever happens in our life. We separated due to many reasons, but I am not angry at him,' she said. The couple, who parted ways in 2011, have remained respectful of one another publicly, even when their personal lives were being intensely scrutinised. Speaking about their son Rishi Raghavendra Deva's recent stage debut with his father, Ramlath called it a proud moment. She praised Prabhudeva's role as a parent, saying, 'His children are his life. He is very attached to both of them. The father-son trio talk to each other irrespective of the situation.' She added that when it comes to parenting decisions, 'We take every decision mutually.' Even while addressing their past, she remained grounded in mutual respect, stating, 'I would be angry with him if he had said anything bad about me after we broke up, but he never did. I would not say anything bad about someone like that.' Jai Arora, counselling psychologist and co-founder of Kirana Counselling, says, 'Emotional maturity after a breakup or divorce isn't automatic; it's cultivated through self-awareness, reflection, and time. Acceptance begins when we stop resisting reality, which we often do because it is uncomfortable, and start acknowledging our pain without judgment. Breakup or divorce can trigger deep emotional and attachment wounds, making them incredibly painful to go through.' A post shared by J I N A D H A T T A N (@jinadhattan_official) Practices like mindfulness, journaling, and therapy help individuals process grief and shift from blame to understanding, he adds. 'Emotionally mature individuals also recognise their role in the relationship's dynamics, which prevents the past from controlling their present.' Arora states that co-parenting can work by 'clear communication, setting respectful boundaries, and maintaining a consistent, mutually developed, parenting plan.' He says that it helps when both parties prioritise the well-being of the children over personal grievances. Both the partners need to regulate their emotions, manage triggers effectively and sometimes learn to set their interests or bitterness, if any, towards the other person aside. Arora explains, 'Refraining from public blame, especially when emotions are raw, is not weakness — it's strength. It protects not only one's own peace but also the mental health of any children involved. Public resentment often prolongs pain. It keeps individuals emotionally tethered to the past. On the other hand, when one chooses silence or respectful distance, it can open space for personal healing and growth.' Moreover, he states that when co-parents speak poorly of one another, it deeply impacts children. They may feel torn or internalise the negativity. Respectful silence fosters a healthier environment for everyone involved, even in the face of disagreement.
