'Thought it was a municipality letter': Celina Jaitly reveals when her twins read her divorce notice before 15th anniversary

Bollywood actor Celina Jaitly has opened up about one of the most difficult moments in her personal life, revealing that she received a divorce notice from Austria just before her 15th wedding anniversary. Speaking about the experience, the actor said she initially mistook the legal document for an official letter related to her residency before discovering it was a divorce petition.

Jaitly, who married Austrian entrepreneur Peter Haag in 2010, said the incident left her shocked, especially as her twin sons ended up reading the legal notice to her because it was written in German. Drawing from her experience, the actor has also urged women with personal assets to consider signing a prenuptial agreement before marriage to safeguard their financial interests.

Celina Jaitly recalls receiving divorce notice

Sharing the incident during an interview with India Today, Jaitly said she initially assumed the envelope contained routine correspondence from local authorities. "I thought it was a letter from the municipality or that it had something to do with my residency. He dropped me down the hill where our house was, and I climbed back up. My twins were at home doing their homework. I asked them, 'Beta, can you please read this for me? It's very high-level German. I'm not going to spend half an hour translating it," she said.


According to Jaitly, the notice arrived shortly before the couple's 15th wedding anniversary. She said she had even joked with her husband about whether the authorities had sent her money before discovering it was a legal document seeking divorce.

The actor said the petition claimed that the marriage had suffered an "irretrievable breakdown."

Celina Jaitly on divorce and child custody

Jaitly revealed that after a judge suggested the couple consider an amicable separation, she proposed a mutual settlement through her husband's lawyers.

She said she did not seek financial compensation and only wanted the return of her assets, the money she had invested, and joint custody of their children.

Recalling a conversation during the proceedings, Jaitly said she was told she would need employment if she wanted access to her children. "I said I don't want anything. I just want my assets back and the money that I invested, and I want us to continue with joint custody. I went to my husband to speak to him after his lawyer said I wouldn't be able to return to Mumbai after the divorce, and I was told, 'Find a job if you want access to the children.' I said, 'What work am I going to do?' And I was told, 'I will get you a job as a cleaner in a supermarket. We don't look down upon jobs here like you do in India.'"

Celina Jaitly advises women to sign a prenup

Reflecting on her experience, Jaitly urged women who own property or other personal assets to consider signing a prenuptial agreement before marriage. "I would recommend girls, please do a prenup if you have assets of your own," Celina said.

The actor said relationships often begin with love and trust, but disputes over finances and property can arise if a marriage breaks down. She stressed that financial independence remains important even in committed relationships.

What is a prenuptial agreement?

A prenuptial agreement, commonly known as a prenup, is a legal contract signed before marriage. It outlines how assets, property, savings and debts will be divided if the marriage ends through divorce or separation.

A prenup is designed to protect individually owned assets, reduce future financial disputes and provide clarity regarding property ownership. In countries where such agreements are legally recognised, they can help simplify the settlement process and offer greater financial security to both spouses.

Who is Celina Jaitly?

Celina Jaitly married Austrian entrepreneur Peter Haag in 2010. The couple have twin sons, Winston and Viraaj, born in 2012, and another son, Arthur, born in 2017. Jaitly has previously spoken about the loss of her son Shamsher, who died due to a heart condition.

The actor is set to return to Bollywood after a 15-year break with the Hindi biographical drama Sister Nibedita. Her recent comments on her divorce proceedings and the importance of prenuptial agreements have sparked discussions about financial security, asset protection and family welfare during marital disputes.