Married or not? The latest twist in the ugly Leander Paes -Rhea Pillai battle

Celebrity marriages have been sustaining gossip factories through the ages. Most recently, gossip mills were abuzz with speculations about how Hrithik Roshan will lose at least Rs 400 crore as part of his divorce settlement with Susanne Khan. However, no breakup has been more profitable for the gossip industry than the Leander Paes-Rhea Pillai falling out. While news broke that Paes wants to break up with Rhea Pillai back in May 2013, the couple has kept the media guessing about their former relationship status. A year later, it is unclear if Paes married Pillai or not. That nugget of information is crucial because it will decide the big property/alimony battle that follows the end of all celebrity relationships. Most media reports until now have suggested that the two were not legally married, but a recent report published in The Times of India suggests otherwise:

What is truly interesting is that while a segment of the media suggested that the two were not married and were only living-in, it has come to light that the couple had solemnised their union. In the affidavit that is reproduced below, Leander has called Rhea his wife. And his passport also has her name as his spouse.

[caption id=“attachment_1642739” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Leander Paes and Rhea Pillai in happier times. AFP.[/caption] The property tussle that seems to have already begun will only get complicated if the confusion around the couple’s marital status persists, given that India doesn’t have too many clear laws when it comes to unmarried couples living together. Firstpost had reported in the past that Paes’ publicist had informed media houses, after they reported the couple’s split, that Paes was never married to Pillai. The publicist told DNA in May 2013 , “Leander and Rhea are not married. They have a daughter, but they are in a live-in relationship.” The copy of the affidavit and passport uncovered by TOI are not available online, but their claim is the latest twist in what have become a hugely convoluted and ugly breakup. A cover story on Mumbai Mirror in May 2013 published details of Paes’ complaints against Pillai where he accused the latter of being an ‘uncaring’ mother. The issue of them not being married also came up in the same. Indian Express reported in May that Pillai  had filed a complaint with the Bandra Police Station alleging that Paes barred her from entering the house after she returned from a party, late at night.  Pillai and Paes had been living in the same house even after they officially ended their relationship. She was accompanied by her young daughter, who was allowed to enter the premises, while Pillai was not allowed access. IE published pictures of Pillai leaving the police station. Later, the police had to accompany Pillai to their home where she found that Paes had already packed her belongings in an attempt to oust her. Paes’ lawyers, however, denies the charges.   More recently, Pillai lodged a complaint of domestic violence against Paes and his father, an allegation which again brought up the issue of marriage. “However, Leander’s application, filed by his lawyers Mridula Kadam and Ishwar Nankani of Nankani Associates, has said that one of the criteria to seek protection under the Domestic Violence Act is the relationship should be ‘in the nature of marriage’”, Times of India reported. The former model is also seeking maintenance worth Rs 4 lakh every month, which again has become about their marital status. Paes’ lawyers have latched on to it and are fighting tooth and nail so that the tennis ace doesn’t have cough up the said amount of money.  His lawyers, in fact, have argued that Aiyana, the couple’s 8-year-old child was born when Pillai was still married to Sanjay Dutt. They are using the fact to suggest that Pillai decided to have the child knowing that she and Paes were not married, meaning Paes was not legally bound to shoulder the responsibilities of a married man. There doesn’t seem to be a quick end to this saga. Gossip mills, however, aren’t complaining.