The mixologist says the end of her marriage felt like losing the life she had imagined, but she still calls the relationship a success.
Avantika Malik, the ex-wife of Bollywood actor Imran Khan, has spoken openly about her divorce, the pain that followed, and how she slowly found happiness again. She shared her thoughts in a recent episode of All About Her, a podcast hosted by actress Soha Ali Khan.
A Love Story That Began at 19
Imran Khan and Avantika Malik were once one of Bollywood’s best-loved couples. Fans were charmed by the fact that they met when they were just 19 years old. They got married in January 2011 and separated in 2019, a decision that surprised many of their followers.
Speaking on the podcast, Avantika said the two of them spent a total of 18 years together, including eight years of marriage. “We were very, very young,” she recalled, adding that it is important to remember how early in life they started their journey together.
“We Were Unfair To Each Other”
Avantika explained that the separation was not a snap decision. She said the couple reached it slowly, after years of change. Over the 18 years, both of them grew, matured and became very different people from the teenagers who first met.
She also admitted that she carried a lot of emotional baggage from her younger years without realising it. At that age, she said, she did not believe that fixing her own issues was her responsibility.
“You think the person in front of you is responsible for you being happy, okay, and content,” she said. “Over the years, you end up damaging the relationship because you have unrealistic expectations of it.”
She added that people are often sold the idea of a “happily ever after,” which she does not believe is the truth. According to Avantika, marriages that last need two people who work hard on the relationship and choose each other every single day.
The couple went through a lot in their 20s and 30s, including fame, failure and success. “We were unfair to each other,” she admitted, adding that small issues piled up over time and eventually led to the split.
Even so, she said they did not give up easily. “We tried our best. We gave it everything,” she said, recalling that there were many times when they were on the brink of asking whether they could carry on. In the end, she felt that after giving each other 18 years, it was okay to let each other go.
The Pain of Letting Go
Although small things built up over the years, Avantika said the final decision to separate came suddenly. It was a mutual choice, but it came with heavy emotional pain.
She described the experience in very strong words. “It is like a death,” she said. “It is a death of the way you perceived your life to be, or what you imagined your life would be, or how it would play out. It’s the death of probably the most intimate relationship in your life.”
She said she felt completely overwhelmed at first. At one point, she even felt like an “absolute, complete, utter failure.” Things only began to improve after some time had passed.
Pride, Disappointment and Success
Despite the heartbreak, Avantika spoke warmly about what she and Imran built. She said she is proud of both of them for supporting each other through so many ups and downs over 18 years.
“I am actually quite proud of us,” she said. At the same time, she admitted she feels a little disappointed about how things ended and the way events played out.
Looking back, she still believes the relationship was a success. “For 18 years, we did our best and built a family,” she said. “Whatever version of it exists today, it is a success.”
Protecting Her Space for Her Daughter
Avantika also spoke about how her life has changed since the divorce. She is now very careful about protecting her personal space, mainly because of her daughter, Imara Malik Khan, who was born in 2014.
She said she is very aware of how she behaves and what she says in public, because it can affect her child. In a world where everything is just a click away, she believes it is important to carry yourself with grace and dignity.
What Her Story Tells Us
Avantika’s honest words offer a different view of divorce. Instead of treating it as a simple failure, she describes it as a painful ending to a long and meaningful chapter. Her message is that a relationship can be successful even if it does not last forever, and that two people can respect what they shared while still choosing to move on.
