Divya Khossla’s recent support for Sunita Ahuja amid the Govinda–Komal Rani Swarnkar controversy has brought Bollywood’s complicated history of co-star relationships and alleged affairs back into focus.
While the alleged relationship between Govinda and Komal remains unconfirmed, the episode has revived a familiar Bollywood conversation around Bollywood stars whose personal lives became as closely scrutinised as their films.
What Divya Khosla Said About Govinda And Komal Rani Swarnkar’s Relationship
Govinda and Komal, who are set to work together in an upcoming movie Roopa, were recently seen together at Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja. The appearance came amid Sunita’s public comments about difficulties in her marriage.
The controversy also generated a second wave of speculation after viral photographs from Lalbaugcha Raja were interpreted on social media as showing Komal wearing sindoor. A Times of India fact-check noted that the vermilion was applied during the religious ritual at the pandal, rather than being evidence of a secret wedding.
Divya Khosla criticised the public display surrounding Govinda and Komal. In a strongly worded social-media post, the actor-filmmaker backed Sunita and questioned Govinda’s repeated public appearances with Komal Rani Swarnkar.
Divya also expressed sympathy for Sunita, highlighting her years of marriage and role in raising the couple’s children. Sunita subsequently reshared Divya’s post on Instagram.
Govinda, however, has denied that the outing was evidence of a romance, saying he and Komal had visited the pandal to seek blessings for their upcoming film and describing the speculation as an attempt to damage his image.
Neither Govinda nor Komal has publicly confirmed a romantic relationship.
This leads us to remember Bollywood’s most popular and controversial love affair that raised many eyebrows.
Bollywood’s Most Famous Love Affairs
1. Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha
Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha became one of Hindi cinema’s most celebrated screen pairs, working together in films including Do Anjaane, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and Silsila.
By the time Silsila went into production in 1981, the speculation surrounding Bachchan and Rekha was already enormous.
Yash Chopra, who directed the 1981 film, later spoke about the unusual casting of Bachchan, Jaya and Rekha. In a BBC Asia interview, Chopra said he was “always on tenterhooks and scared because it was real life coming into reel life”, adding, “Jaya is his wife, and Rekha is his girlfriend; the same story is going on.”
Rekha herself gave perhaps the most famous answer when Simi Garewal asked her in 2004 whether she had fallen in love with Amitabh. “Absolutely. Duh, that’s a dumb question,” she replied, before saying she felt an overwhelming love for him.
But in the same interview, Rekha made an important distinction. Asked about the alleged affair, she said: “There was never a personal connection with him; that’s the truth. Never ever.” She called the controversy and speculation untrue.
Silsila movie starring Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, and Rekha (Image Credit: Instagram @amitabhrekhabachchan11)
2. Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra
The Shah Rukh Khan–Priyanka Chopra story gained momentum when the two worked together on Don and Don 2.
They were frequently photographed together. One of the more enduring pieces of speculation came from a jacket Priyanka showed on the American talk show Dirty Laundry.
Priyanka said it belonged to an ex-boyfriend and that she had kept it after he left it at her house. Photos of Shah Rukh wearing a similar jacket subsequently circulated online, leading people to speculate that he was the unnamed ex.
Priyanka never identified the man; instead, she said, “I call him MF.”
There has never been a public confirmation from Shah Rukh or Priyanka that they were romantically involved.
In 2024, Shah Rukh’s longtime associate Vivek Vaswani also rejected the allegation. As reported by Hindustan Times, Vaswani said the Priyanka story was simply a rumour and described Shah Rukh as a “one-woman man”.
Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra (LS) Gauri Khan (RS) (Image Credit: TDJ Graphics)
3. Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra
Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra’s alleged relationship became a major talking point in the early 2000s.
They appeared together in Andaaz, Aitraaz, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and Waqt: The Race Against Time. Their repeated pairing fuelled speculation that the relationship had gone beyond their films.
A 2004 Times of India report described an alleged confrontation between Akshay Kumar and his wife, Twinkle Khanna, at a Goa resort, with an eyewitness claiming that the dispute appeared connected to rumours about Priyanka.
In 2007, Hindustan Times reported that Akshay and Priyanka had decided not to work together in order to silence the persistent gossip about their personal equation.
Years later, Akshay himself rejected the suggestion that the two had some permanent professional fallout. During an appearance on Aap Ki Adalat, he was asked why he no longer worked with Priyanka and replied, “Who tells you all these things? This is not true.”
The alleged affair itself was never publicly confirmed by Akshay or Priyanka.
Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra (LS) Twinkle Khanna (RS) (Image Credit: TDJ Graphics)
4. Raj Kapoor And Nargis
Raj Kapoor and Nargis were one of Hindi cinema’s defining screen couples, appearing together in classics such as Awaara and Shree 420. Their relationship developed while Raj Kapoor was married to Krishna Kapoor.
Raj Kapoor later spoke about Nargis in a Prasar Bharati documentary, making clear just how important she had been to both his personal and professional life.
“Women have always meant a lot in my life, but Nargis meant more than anybody else,” he said, according to The Indian Express. He described Krishna as “the mother of my children” and Nargis as the woman who contributed to his filmmaking.
Nargis eventually married Sunil Dutt in 1958. The relationship with Raj Kapoor had ended by then.
Nargis (LS) Raj Kapoor and Krishna Kapoor (Image Credit: TDJ Graphics)
5. Ajay Devgn and Kangana Ranaut
Ajay Devgn and Kangana Ranaut were linked during the making of Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai. Reports at the time suggested that their on-set camaraderie had developed into a relationship.
The Times of India later reported that Ajay was allegedly instrumental in Kangana being considered for films including Rascals and Tezz, adding to speculation about their closeness.
One detail frequently cited in subsequent reports was Kangana's later comment that “getting involved with married men was a mistake.” She did not name Ajay in that statement, so it cannot be treated as a direct confirmation that she was referring to him.
Ajay himself had previously spoken generally about extramarital-affair rumours. In an interview quoted by The Times of India, he said, “I won't say that extramarital affairs don't happen, but at times the media misunderstands when they see two people together.”
Neither Ajay nor Kangana publicly confirmed that they had been romantically involved.
Ajay Devgn and Kangana Ranaut (LS) Kajol (RS) (Image Credit: TDJ Graphics)
ALSO READ: Is Govinda Married Again? Rumoured GF Komal Rani Swarnkar’s Sindoor Look Sparks Questions
From Raj Kapoor and Nargis to Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha, Bollywood has seen several relationships that became the subject of intense public speculation and debate. The Govinda–Komal Rani Swarnkar controversy has now added another chapter to that long history.
Which of these Bollywood relationships do you think remains the most talked-about even years later?
FAQs
Q1. Did Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha date?
A1. Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha’s alleged relationship was never publicly confirmed by both.
Q2. Were Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra in a relationship?
A2. Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra were widely rumoured to be dating, but neither publicly confirmed it.