Anita Hassanandani opens up about ‘difficult' breakup with Eijaz Khan: ‘…because he was from another culture'

Indian Express

12-06-2025

Anita Hassanandani recently opened up about her much-publicised relationship and subsequent breakup with Kkavyanjali co-actor Eijaz Khan in 2007. While admitting not having any regrets, she acknowledged that she had realised that a partner should accept you as you are.
'See, I learnt a lot. I became a better person. I think we were two very good people, not good for each other. The only thing I regret is that I let go of my prime career. I was offered a film called Varsham (2004), a big Tamil hit. And I didn't do it. It was not him, but I didn't want to do it because I wasn't sure if he was okay with it. He didn't ever stop me. Because I wanted to overdo it in the relationship, I took a few bad career moves. But other than that, no regrets. That's life. Heart breaks, breakups, whatever, you learn from every relationship,' the 44-year-old told Siddharth Kannan.
Calling it a 'first few longish relationships', Hassanandani, in another interview, told Hauterrfly, 'I'd also gone against my mother because he was from another culture. She wasn't denying it, but she had a feeling…It was a difficult breakup. If somebody wants to change you, to be in love with you, it is not love. But I didn't realise it back then because I was in love and willing to change for the person I loved. I wish I hadn't changed all that much and been myself. I would have been a different person.'
Taking a cue from her candid admission, let's understand why breakups happen in relationships and what to do to survive them.
Dr Chandni Tugnait, psychotherapist, coach, and healer, founder and director, Gateway of Healing, said that timing often shapes how relationships form, grow, or drift. According to Dr Tugnait, love alone cannot hold two people together. 'What often feels like heartbreak is actually a mismatch in life's rhythm. When held by the right timing, the right connection requires less effort and more ease. And that's when love begins to feel like home, not a battle. Accepting this can bring peace. Because when two people are truly aligned in heart and time, love flows without force,' said Dr Tugnait.
*A person may desire a relationship but still carry emotional baggage. The relationship will feel one-sided if they are not ready to receive or offer love fully, no matter how strong the intention.
*Both partners need to have the same intentions in the present and future to grow together. 'The pace of growth should be in sync, or both will feel misunderstood,' said Dr Tugnait.
*Respect is the need of the hour. If one person pushes for commitment while the other is not ready, it creates pressure. 'Patience and space allow clarity to emerge naturally,' said Dr Tugnait.