When Deepak Tijori's marriage turned into a nightmare: "Was thrown out, denied food"

Deepak Tijori, a prominent face in Bollywood during the 1990s, found himself at the center of a shocking personal crisis when his marriage to Shivani Tijori took a turbulent turn. Known for his roles in iconic films like Aashiqui, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Deepak enjoyed fame on the silver screen. However, behind the glitz and glamour, his personal life was embroiled in a legal and emotional battle that took many by surprise.

In 2017, reports emerged that Deepak was thrown out of his home in Goregaon by his wife, Shivani Tijori, who suspected him of having an extramarital affair. According to sources, Shivani went to the extent of restricting him to just one room in their house and allegedly instructed their house staff not to serve him food. With no place to stay, Deepak was reportedly forced to seek refuge at a friend's residence.


Shivani also filed for divorce and sought maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC), which allows a spouse to claim financial support. However, what seemed like a typical case of marital discord took a dramatic twist when Deepak made a startling claim about their marriage’s legality.

According to Bollywood Shaadis reports, Deepak reportedly discovered that his marriage to Shivani was not legally valid. He alleged that Shivani had not divorced her first husband before marrying him, making their marriage void. This revelation added another layer of complexity to the already messy separation, raising questions about the legitimacy of their relationship and Shivani’s maintenance claims.


While Deepak chose to remain silent about these allegations, his sister-in-law, actress Kunika Sadanand, spoke out against the reports. In an interview with Pinkvilla, she dismissed the claims, stating: "Can a person be married for 26 years and suddenly realize their marriage is null and void? I am sure someone is behind this mischief. We are not bothered by such stories because the court will make a decision based on evidence. It’s clear that someone is trying to manipulate the media to influence the court proceedings regarding the divorce and alimony settlement."


Kunika also refuted the reports that Deepak was thrown out of his home. She claimed that he was still living there, albeit part-time, and had been staying with his girlfriend as well. Dismissing the rumors of eviction, she said:"He is still living there. He comes and goes. He has a girlfriend too, so he divides his time. How can she throw him out? He is the father of her child. He even has his own room in the house."


This statement contradicted earlier reports and suggested that the situation might not have been as one-sided as it initially appeared.

As the controversy escalated, Shivani finally broke her silence, expressing her disappointment over Deepak’s actions. She accused him of crossing all limits of decency and morality, stating:


"Deepak Tijori, my husband of over 22 years and the father of our young daughter, has crossed all limits. He has over-stepped the domains of decency, morality, sensitivity, sensibility, and above all, the premises of every legality."


While she refrained from revealing more details due to the ongoing legal proceedings, her words indicated the severity of the rift between them.

Deepak Tijori, who transitioned from acting to filmmaking, has largely stayed away from the limelight in recent years. His directorial ventures, including Oops!, Fareb, and Tom, Dick, and Harry, received moderate success, but his personal struggles seem to have overshadowed his professional career.