Actors Harsh Chhaya and Shefali Shah were married for six years before separating and moving on with new partners. Although they have mostly avoided discussing their divorce publicly, Harsh recently revealed that he sensed the marriage was nearing its end about 8–9 months earlier and had begun preparing himself for it mentally.
'Could see the relationship hit dead end'
In an interview Harsh said, "These situations are very personal and differ from person to person. In our case, things were quite clear; I could see that the relationship was reaching a dead end. When I was finally told, 'I cannot stay with you anymore,' I had already sensed it 8–9 months earlier. I was mentally prepared. Even when I know what is happening, I try not to let it affect me psychologically in that moment. Instead, I concentrate on my work and on myself, because I left Delhi and moved to Mumbai for this career. Ultimately, how someone handles such a situation is up to them. I am fortunate to come from a mindset where I am not easily shaken."
Harsh on dating after separation with Shefali
While Harsh prepared himself for the separation, he acknowledged that he first went through a period of anger before eventually reflecting on the situation and moving forward. He shared that he even went on several dates after parting ways with Shefali. “You have to try to stay sane when something like this happens; if you’re uncomfortable, sit with that feeling—don’t try to pretend you’re strong. I lived with those emotions for 5–6 months, I regretted things, I shouted, and so on. One day, I realised I was under a lot of stress, and that everyone around me was ready to hear my side and offer their opinions. After I opened up to someone, we talked about each other’s problems, and then we went on a date; that happened a few times and I turned it into a kind of formula. I went on multiple dates over 2–3 months. It takes time; you don’t need to act brave, you should be honest about what you’re feeling,” he said.
Harsh and Shefali's relationship
“Divorce is not a big deal,” the actor said, adding that he and Shefali “acted quickly” and did not prolong the process. They informed the court that they had been living apart for six months before filing for divorce..
For those who may not know, Harsh and Shefali first met on the sets of Hasratein, where they fell in love and tied the knot in 1994. Their marriage, however, was short-lived, and they parted ways in 2000. That same year, Shefali married filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah, and the two later welcomed two sons, Aryaman and Maurya. Harsh went on to marry actor Suneeta Sengupta.