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Malaika Arora Khan On How She Navigated Life After Her Marriage Of 18 Years Fell Apart

A difficult road.
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In March 2016, Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan, one of Bollywood's most high-profile couple, announced their separation. A joint statement released by the couple said that they are taking time out to 'figure out' their lives.

In July this year, the Bandra Family court formalised their divorce, which ended their 18-year-old marriage. Ever since the split, the couple has been cordial to one another, as far as their public appearances are concerned. They have also expressed concern for their teenage son, Arhaan, who lives with his mother.

Now, in an interview with senior journalist Upala KBR of Mid-Day, Malaika opened up about how she coped with the divorce, something that left both, her and her ex-husband, emotionally drained.

The model-dancer revealed that her inner circle of friends helped her cope with the tough patch (Malaika is usually seen hanging out with industry folk Kareena Kapoor, Dolly Sidhwani, Bhavna Pandey).

She said, "While some read self-help books or indulge in some form of self-healing, for me, it's been a combination of things. I rely on my friends who are my sounding board. I am not very spiritual, but I meditate and focus on my health (Meditation is known to be of great help in dealing with emotionally stressful events like divorce). I can't take off and spend time alone in a remote location."

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Khan also revealed that she was reticent to talk about her issues in the past but now that has changed. She said whether it's friends or therapist, externalising your problems is one way of dealing with a difficult situation. "My son Arhaan keeps me focused. He is loving and accommodating. So, that has helped me heal."

While her former husband has said that he's dating someone, Malaika is taking each day as it comes and hasn't yet gotten into a relationship. Despite him having thought of moving on, the couple remains in touch as their son likes to spend time with his father. "No matter what happens or where life takes us, Arbaaz will always be integral to my life. Separation is never easy on anybody. Only those who encounter it understand it," she concluded.

The full interview can be read here.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.