Indraneil Sengupta on his marriage not working out with Barkha Sengupta; says ‘It has worked for 13 years, it didn’t go on forever’

Actor Indraneil Sengupta opened up about his separation from Barkha Sengupta in a candid podcast with Sanghamitra Hitaishi. Reflecting on their 13-year marriage, he challenged the notion of relationships being "forever" and emphasized personal growth. He also spoke about industry insecurities, rejecting societal norms, and why he doesn’t want his daughter to follow his career path.

Something went wrong in my life, which was really wrong in the public eye. It was right there for everyone to see. To come to terms with it, to accept it, to embrace it… it made me embrace the reality of life in general. Something I thought that could never happen to me, that illusion broke. It is very liberating as well.

Although the incident is very negative, it has changed me in a lot of positive ways in terms of my personality development. My marriage, if someone says ‘it hasn’t worked out’, I would say it has. It has worked for 13 years. It didn’t go forever. Why is the idea of a relationship ‘forever’? It is good if it is forever. There have been good moments, very good moments and also bad moments.

Two people have had their individual journeys, which is also together journey and no one is wrong. Sometimes personalities change. We were different people from day 1. As the years have passed, we have become more of ourselves. I don’t agree to the word failure. Nothing has failed. People will give the example of past generations. I have a say, which people may not like. In those days, most relationships worked due to dependency.

The kind of advises that I have gotten from my close friends, who are from industry, well-meaning friends, that ‘protect the family, do whatever you wish to do, but save the marriage’. Is this some advice? If that’s their thought of doing whatever you want to do outside but come back home and that’s the example they want to set then I don’t want to be a part of it.

The insecurity of the profession. It is very challenging. We really don’t know what’s going to happen. When we crack a project, we don’t know what’s going to happen next. When a project is happening, I keep thinking what’s next after this project gets over because no audition, nothing is locked there after. So the insecurity is always there.

I am not very keen on my daughter Meira joining the industry because of the uncertainties and also it is very predictable. Because she is the daughter of an actor so that is the most convenient course of action. I would be ok if she becomes an activist or something else. I want her to become richer as an individual. I don’t want her to be dependent for anything, emotionally or financially. Emotionally mostly, because you shouldn’t need anyone to fulfill. You are enough yourself.

I have dropped many friends. I have dropped them by choice and very deliberately. They didn’t believed in my dreams. When I came to Bombay and was modelling, they would say ‘aur kab tak wapas ayega? Hogaya shaukh pura?’ I hated it. He didn’t believe that I was a professional model and actor. It happened with my relatives also. One of them, very close to me and I would go to their house. Then I stopped going. I haven’t been to her house for years now. They are just negative influences. Good people are not relevant in certain point of times.

I know it is a social media thing to source clothes from designers. They get that exposure. I don’t exhibit myself on social media. I don’t believe in it. I have tried it, but I don’t like it.