Veteran actress Raveena Tandon, a prominent figure of Bollywood in the 90s, recently opened up about her former relationship with Akshay Kumar and the media circus that followed their split. The couple, once an iconic pairing in the industry, headlined numerous tabloids when they called off their engagement. Echoing through the grapevine were varied reports, some trivializing her emotional state to the extent of speculating a suicide attempt, others highlighting her compassionate decision to adopt two girls. However, the actress has now provided her own perspective on these events in an exclusive dialogue with journalist Barkha Dutt for Mojo Story.
Raveena Tandon was a leading light of Bollywood’s golden era in the 90s, enchanting audiences with her stellar performances and captivating presence. During that decade, she found herself ensnared in the glitzy yet often invasive world of entertainment journalism following her break up with fellow actor Akshay Kumar. Various publications at the time ran rampant with sensationalized stories about how Tandon was coping with the end of the relationship.
Amid the whirlwind of rumors, one of the more insidious narratives suggested that Tandon had attempted suicide, a claim that she has directly refuted. During her candid interview, she remarked, “Yes, what’s the big deal? So many relationships break up, people move on, you remain friends… You realize you were not good as partners but we’re good as friends. So what’s the big deal? I was absolutely fine. The bigger fuss was made in the media because in those days, they wanted to sell their magazines.” It is evident that Raveena has always been more concerned about the opinions held by her close circle of friends and family than those of the gossip mills.
In the same conversation, Raveena elaborated on her decision to adopt two daughters following the break up. Disheartened by the stories spun out of control by the press, she expressed, “There was absolutely no control on the kind of stories that would go around. So, the day I got my two girls home… They were not getting the life that they deserved, I felt, and this was something that was happening closer to home, and I decided to take charge. The day I turned 21 I brought them in. I couldn’t watch it unfold in front of me and not do anything.” It is a testament to her nurturing spirit that at such a young age, she stepped up to provide a better life for these girls. She also shared that her parents played a significant role in raising her adopted daughters, who in turn helped with the upbringing of her biological children with her husband, Anil Thadani.
During the 90s, Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon attained massive popularity as an on-screen duo, featuring in blockbuster films such as ‘Mohra’, ‘Main Khiladi Tu Anari’, and ‘Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi’. After many years, they are set to reunite in the upcoming film ‘Welcome to The Jungle’, which boasts an ensemble cast including the likes of Suniel Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Disha Patani, Arshad Warsi, and many others. Fans are undoubtedly eager to see them reignite their chemistry on the silver screen.
Raveena Tandon’s journey through the labyrinth of fame and scrutiny has been marked by both challenges and triumphs, but her resilience and honesty have allowed her to emerge with dignity and grace. Her career has been an inspiration to many, and her forthcoming projects promise to add yet another chapter to her enduring legacy in the Indian film industry.
