Malaika-Arbaaz file for divorce, attend first marriage counselling

Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan have moved the family court in Bandra, Mumbai, for a divorce after 17 years of marriage.

Touted to be one of the most loved couples of Bollywood, actor Malaika Arora and producer Arbaaz Khan today moved the family court in the Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai for a divorce. Both have filed for dissolution of their marriage based on mutual consent. The couple has been allotted Court No 1 for further case proceedings under Principal Judge IJ Nanda.

The two got married in 1997, and have a son Arhaan who is 14 years old. Both celebrities, dressed in white, appeared for their first marriage counselling session today only to leave the court premises in a hurry. As per law, after the filing of the divorce petition, the court gives the couple a period of 6 months to mull over reconciliation. If that doesn't happen, the court agrees to dissolve the marriage. This is the procedure being followed for this case as well.

Malaika and Arbaaz announced their separation in March this year, and soon Malaika moved out of the Khan residence into a separate apartment with her son.

While some reports suggest that the trouble in their paradise began due to Malaika's alleged affair with Arjun Kapoor, sources have told India Today that Malaika particularly wanted Arbaaz to come out of the shadow of big brother Salman Khan. In fact, Salman is said to have spoken to both on several occasions to work things out, but all of that was in vain.