Hrithik Roshan & Sussanne Khan: Bollywood's Most Expensive Divorce
Bollywood's most debated divorce — reported at $45 million, denied by both sides.
Key Facts
What Happened
Hrithik Roshan, one of Bollywood's highest-paid and most celebrated actors, married interior designer Sussanne Khan in December 2000 after dating for four years. The couple was considered Bollywood royalty — Hrithik, the son of filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, and Sussanne, the daughter of actor Sanjay Khan. They had two sons, Hrehaan (born 2006) and Hridhaan (born 2008), and were widely admired as one of the industry's strongest couples.
Cracks appeared publicly in late 2013 when the couple announced their separation. The divorce was finalized in November 2014 through mutual consent at the Bandra Family Court in Mumbai. While both parties maintained dignified silence about the reasons, media speculation ran wild — linking the split to alleged affairs on both sides, including rumored tensions involving actor Arjun Rampal and later a bizarre public feud between Hrithik and actress Kangana Ranaut.
The settlement became the subject of enormous media speculation. Multiple outlets reported that Sussanne received Rs 380 crore (approximately $45 million), which would make it the most expensive divorce in Bollywood history. However, Hrithik publicly denied these figures, calling them 'absolutely fabricated.' Close sources indicated that financial matters were settled privately and amicably, with neither party speaking ill of the other. Hrithik reportedly ensured Sussanne received a substantial property settlement including a luxury apartment.
The post-divorce relationship between Hrithik and Sussanne became a model of co-parenting in Bollywood. They continued to be seen together at family events, vacations with their children, and even moved into the same building during the COVID-19 lockdown to co-parent effectively. Their approach demonstrated that high-profile divorce does not have to mean permanent animosity.
Legal Breakdown: How Indian divorce settlements are shaped by media speculation and mutual-consent provisions
Mutual Consent Divorce in India
Under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, couples can file for divorce by mutual consent if they have lived separately for at least one year. The process requires two motions — the first to file and the second to confirm after a mandatory cooling-off period of six months (which courts can waive in certain circumstances). This route is faster, less adversarial, and allows couples to keep settlement terms private.
Settlement Privacy vs. Media Speculation
Indian mutual consent divorces allow settlement terms to remain sealed. However, for celebrity divorces, media outlets routinely speculate about amounts based on anonymous sources. The Hrithik-Sussanne case illustrates the gap between reported and actual settlements — both parties denied the widely cited Rs 380 crore figure. This media inflation of settlement amounts can distort public understanding of divorce economics.
Maintenance and Property Under Indian Law
Indian law provides for both one-time alimony settlements and ongoing maintenance. The amount considers factors including the husband's income, the wife's earning capacity, the standard of living during marriage, and the needs of children. In high-net-worth cases, property transfers (apartments, investments) often form a significant portion of the settlement, providing long-term security.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Mutual consent divorce offers privacy, speed, and control — but it requires both parties to genuinely agree, which is not always achievable.
- →Media-reported settlement figures in celebrity divorces are often unreliable; the actual terms are usually sealed and known only to the parties and their lawyers.
- →Post-divorce co-parenting can succeed even in high-profile situations — Hrithik and Sussanne's continued friendship sets a positive example.
- →High-net-worth divorces in India often involve complex property transfers rather than simple cash payments, requiring careful legal and tax planning.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.