Television actress Chahatt Khanna is best known for her role Ayesha in Television's one of the popular shows Bade Achche Lagte Hain. Chahatt's popularity has always been more than the number of shows she has worked in. Kumkum, Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna and Qubool Hai, are the shows that she has been featured in.
Chahatt Khanna started her career at a very young age. She was 16 when she bagged her first ad shoot. She featured in Cadbury's advertisement, with Pradeep Sarkar in 2002. She went on to act in Hello Dollie, Shakalaka Boom Boom, among others.
However, Chahatt Khann quit her career in 2006 after marrying her long-time beau Bharat Narsinghani, a businessman. Sadly, her marriage ended in seven months, after Chahatt alleged that Bharat physically abused her.
Chahatt Khanna came back to the Television world and featured in shows like Kaajjal, Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna. She also featured in Bollywood film Thank You, starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Sonam Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Bobby Deol.
Chahatt Khanna rose to fame when she played Sakshi Tanwar's sister Ayesha in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain. Chahatt's sister Simran Khanna is also a telly actress.
In 2012, Chahatt announced about her relationship with Kanan Malhotra. The duo had been in a relationship for 2 years but had been in denial mode for long. However, they decided to go public about their love in 2012. She had said in an interview with mid-day, "I met Kanan in Film City in October 2010 and after a few weeks, we both felt we are just meant to be together. We always wanted to be low profile about our relationship. I have got a tattoo CK done, which is my name and his name together. Kanan is the best guy in the world."
However, Chahatt and Kanan broke up soon after making their relationship public. In 2013, Chahatt married Farhan Mirza, son of writer Shahrukh Mirza.
The couple has two daughters - Zoharr and Amaira. Unfortunately, this marriage too didn't work for Chahatt Khanna. Farhan and Chahatt parted ways in 2018, and the actress is now a single mother. Her five-year-long marriage came crashing down when the actor accused her husband of sexual and mental abuse.
Glad to put the toxic chapter behind her, Chahatt Khanna, a single mother to two daughters, took to work with renewed vigour. She was seen in Sanjay Dutt's Prasthanam in 2019. "I have turned things in my favour to be at peace," said Khanna, who is now rebuilding her life, one day at a time.
Two failed marriages have left a deep impact on Chahatt Khanna. But bitter experiences also have a way of wisening one beyond their years. Khanna is finding strength in her family. "It's easy to get married but difficult to get divorced. It will take me another four to five years [to find my feet]. It is difficult because when you introduce yourself as a single mother in society, a lot of people want to take advantage of your vulnerability," said Khanna.
"I had co-actors walk up to me and say, 'If you were single, I would have married you'. Or 'Life is over for you because you won't find love again' and so on. Several suggested that I settle abroad as life would be easier there. I want to be happy, so I'm not getting married again for sure, but why should I leave my home?" Khanna added further.
Chahatt's resilience may see her through the dark chapter, but she says that the stigma associated with failed marriages is real. "I feel conscious walking in public because I can feel all eyes on me; people call me names and advise others to avoid me. I am getting [professional] help to get me through this. I don't believe in the stigma attached to visiting a shrink. It is something people must do on a regular basis," concluded Khanna.
On the work front, Chahatt Khanna, amid lockdown, collaborated with her neighbour-singer Mika Singh for a new single titled Quarantine love. While Mika has lent vocals to the song, the Khanna features in the video.
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