Kumar Sanu’s Ex-Wife Rita Bhattacharya Claims She Was Starved During Pregnancy

In a candid interview with Film Window, Rita Bhattacharya, the former wife of legendary playback singer Kumar Sanu, has laid bare the harrowing realities of their marriage, accusing both the artist and his relatives of severe emotional and physical torment. Bhattacharya painted a picture of a union that unraveled amid escalating restrictions and cruelty, particularly after Sanu’s meteoric rise to fame with the soundtrack of the 1990 hit film Aashiqui.

Bhattacharya recounted how Sanu’s deep-seated insecurities manifested as oppressive controls over her daily life. She described being confined to their home, barred from venturing outside, which left her in a state of profound isolation. The dynamics worsened, she said, with the arrival of Sanu’s sister, who abandoned her own spouse and children to reside with the couple. This shift, according to Bhattacharya, fostered an uncomfortable household atmosphere. Notably, she claimed that while she shared a separate sleeping space with their children, Sanu’s sister occupied the same room as the singer.

The alleged mistreatment extended to basic necessities, Bhattacharya asserted. She said the family withheld food from her, routinely securing the kitchen cabinets before departing the house. At one point, they even discontinued milk supplies for the children and informed their pediatrician that payments could no longer be made. “Ghar se jab bahar jaate toh kitchen ke shelves lock kar dete,” she recalled, explaining how she resorted to purchasing a small quantity of rice and preparing simple khichdi at her sister-in-law’s residence. “They tortured me as much as they could. And I couldn’t do anything because I was pregnant…”

Legal conflicts compounded the ordeal. Bhattacharya revealed that Sanu initiated court proceedings against her, accusing her of cruelty—even as she carried their child. “I used to feel so sleepy sometimes when I was pregnant; sometimes I used to vomit at the court,” she shared, highlighting the physical toll. She further alleged that Sanu enlisted local toughs to intimidate her into granting him an uncontested divorce.

Amid these claims, Bhattacharya also accused Sanu of extramarital involvements during her pregnancies, adding layers of betrayal to their fractured bond.

Their story began in Kolkata, where Bhattacharya and Sanu—then known by his birth name Kedarnath Bhattacharya—first met and fell in love. Bucking familial opposition, they wed in the late 1980s, eventually gaining reluctant acceptance from both sides. The pair had three children together, but irreconcilable strains led to their divorce in 1994.

Bhattacharya’s disclosures cast a stark shadow over Sanu’s celebrated career, marked by iconic tracks like “Tujhe Dekha Toh Yeh Jaana Sanam.” As the singer enjoys enduring popularity, these accounts from his past underscore the personal costs often hidden behind public triumphs.