Years before their divorce, Malaika Arora claimed to have marital troubles to promote a brand, alleges journalist

Actors Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan shared a long marital journey that lasted nearly two decades before they eventually parted ways in 2017. Despite their eventual separation, speculation about trouble in their relationship had been circulating in media circles for years prior.

In a chat with actress Pooja Bhatt in the podcast The Pooja Bhatt Show, veteran journalist Vickey Lalwani once recounted an incident during a conversation with Pooja Bhatt, revealing how an early report about their alleged split turned into a complicated and controversial episode. He described how, around 2008, he received a tip from a filmmaker suggesting that the couple was on the verge of ending their marriage. Acting on that information, he proceeded to publish a report indicating that Malaika and Arbaaz were heading for a breakup. At the time, the pair were also appearing together in a commercial campaign that interestingly depicted a theme of coming together and drifting apart.

According to the journalist, there were indications that the narrative of a separation may have been subtly circulated through indirect channels to reach the press, even though the couple had not actually decided to part ways then. He admitted that while it remained unclear whether the two were experiencing difficulties at that stage, their eventual separation years later was a separate matter altogether.


Wanting to confirm the truth before publishing, he personally reached out to Malaika. During their conversation, she acknowledged that there "were troubles" in the relationship and did not dismiss the claims outright. Confident in her response, and having recorded the exchange, the report was published. However, the following day brought an unexpected twist when his editorial team realized they may have been misled, with suspicions arising that the entire situation had been orchestrated as part of a promotional strategy linked to the brand they were endorsing.

Determined to address the situation, the journalist and his team decided to confront Malaika at a public event hosted for the same brand. When he arrived, the function was already underway, with the actor on stage under tight security. In a bold move, he pushed past security personnel and approached her directly. Presenting the recorded conversation, he questioned her about the alleged misrepresentation. Her response, brief and unapologetic, implied that she did not feel obligated to disclose the truth. The interaction ended there without further escalation, largely because the event continued uninterrupted.

In the years since, both individuals have moved forward in their personal lives. Arbaaz later married Sshura Khan, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Sipaara Khan, in 2025, marking a new chapter for him beyond his earlier marriage.