Bombay High Court dismisses actress Anita Advani's plea for marital recognition with actor Rajesh Khanna

Mumbai: Nearly 14 years after superstar Rajesh Khanna died, the Bombay High Court has dismissed the plea filed by his partner and actor Anita Advani seeking legal recognition for their alleged marriage.

Khanna, aged 69, died on 8 July 2012.

Advani claimed that she and Khanna were in a 'live-in relationship' for at least a decade until his death in 2012 during which the superstar had secretly married her by putting ‘sindoor’ on her head.

Khanna's wife, actor Dimple Kapadia, her daughter Twinkle Khanna and son-in-law Akshay Kumar opposed her claims of being 'married' to Khanna or of being a 'live-in' partner of the late actor.

Justice Sharmila Deshmukh dismissed Advani's appeal challenging an earlier Dindoshi Session Court’s rejection of her civil suit.

“First appeal is dismissed,” the court said.

It may be recalled that Advani claimed she was evicted from Aashirwad, Khanna's bungalow in Bandra and accused the latter’s family of domestic violence.

In 2012, Advani initiated legal proceedings against Khanna’s family under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005. However, in 2015, the Bombay High Court quashed Advani’s domestic violence complaint filed against the Khanna family.