Kumar Sanu, often remembered as the “King of Melody” in Bollywood, gave audiences timeless songs that defined the sound of the 1990s. With his soulful voice in films like Aashiqui and Baazigar, he became a household name and one of the most celebrated playback singers of India. Yet, behind the applause and music, his personal life was not as harmonious as his songs.
His former wife Rita Bhattacharya has recently opened up about her difficult years of marriage with the singer, shedding light on struggles that remained hidden behind the glitter of stardom.
Rita who married Kumar Sanu in the late 1980s described the early days of their relationship as pretty good but things changed drastically after the singer rose to fame. In a recent interview, she recalled that the toughest period of her life came during her pregnancy with their third son, Jaan Kumar Sanu. She claimed that instead of receiving care and support, she faced neglect, restrictions and humiliation.
According to Rita, life after Sanu’s success in Aashiqui was filled with hardships. She alleged that she was confined at home, not allowed to meet friends, visit beauty parlours or even wear makeup. Simple joys were taken away and her world shrank within four walls. Her sister-in-law became her only pillar of support during that time. Rita recalled moments when she was even denied food and had to depend on her sister-in-law to cook rice so she could manage to eat.
In her words, “Ghar se jab bahar jaate toh kitchen ke shelves lock kar dete. Mujhe chawal khane ke liye bhabhi ke ghar jaana pada. I bought a handful of rice and then cooked khichdi at my sister-in-law’s home, and then we used to have food.”
She further alleged that financial control added to her misery. Rita claimed that she was given just a small amount of money (Rs. 100) each day, barely enough to survive, and even doctors were told not to provide her medical care. There were instances when she couldn’t even order baby food because shopkeepers said they had instructions not to deliver it. Pregnant and struggling, she felt completely isolated.
The emotional burden grew heavier when she was dragged into court battles. Rita revealed that Sanu not only mocked her during these hearings but was also accompanied by the same group of people who ridiculed her situation. She said that those were moments when she felt the ground beneath her collapsing. She alleged that what hurt even more was that the singer was involved in an affair during this very time.
The marriage eventually ended in 1994, leaving Rita to raise their children while coping with the scars of that chapter. Around the same period, Kumar Sanu’s closeness with actress Kunickaa Sadanand became public. Kunickaa herself has spoken about their five-year-long relationship, admitting that she felt like a wife to him despite knowing about his troubled marriage. She also recalled dramatic incidents, including one where the singer, in a drunken state, allegedly tried to jump out of a hotel window in Ooty, showing signs of deep emotional distress.
Kunickaa, while reflecting on that time, said she even tried to help Sanu improve his lifestyle, fitness and fashion. Yet their relationship came with its own challenges. Rita, already battling financial issues, once confronted Kunickaa by damaging her car with a hockey stick in a fit of rage. Kunickaa later admitted that she understood Rita’s frustration, especially since it was about securing money for her children’s future.
Eventually, both women moved on and Kumar Sanu himself turned a new chapter in his personal life. But Rita’s recent revelations reopen old wounds, reminding fans that the glamorous world of stardom often hides shadows of pain, betrayal and human frailty.
