What was the breakup story of Ravi Shastri and Amrita Singh?

Ravi Shastri, is a legendary figure in Indian cricket — a stylish and flamboyant cricketer, a celebrated commentator, and a former head coach of the Indian national team. Known for his confident personality and sharp presence on and off the field, Shastri made headlines not only for his cricketing achievements but also for his personal life.

One of the most talked-about aspects of his early fame was his relationship with Bollywood actress Amrita Singh — one of the most prominent heroines of the 1980s and 1990s. Their relationship captured public imagination and media attention.

Their paths first crossed in November 1986, during a photoshoot for the cover of the popular film magazine Cine Blitz. The chemistry between them was instant, and soon rumours about their budding romance began making headlines. There were even reports that Ravi Shastri had proposed to Amrita Singh at a restaurant in New York — adding fuel to the speculation. Their relationship quickly became one of the most talked-about affairs of that era.

Both were at the peak of their careers — Shastri as a national cricketing icon and Amrita as a leading lady in Bollywood. They were even rumoured to be engaged at one point during the late 1980s, though the engagement was never officially confirmed.

Despite being deeply involved, the couple eventually parted ways. The reason behind their breakup was reportedly Shastri’s firm condition that Amrita Singh should give up her acting career after marriage. In an interview from that period, Ravi Shastri said: “I definitely don't want an actress wife. I am chauvinistic. Her home should be her first priority.”

This statement shocked Amrita, who was then one of the top actresses in Bollywood. Known for her strong personality and independence, she was not ready to sacrifice her successful film career for marriage. Feeling hurt and disappointed by Shastri’s public comments and demands, Amrita chose to end the relationship.

After parting ways, both Shastri and Amrita moved on with their lives. In 1991, Amrita Singh married actor Saif Ali Khan, who was 12 years younger than her. The couple had two children — Sara Ali Khan (now a Bollywood actress) and Ibrahim Ali Khan. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 2004.

Ravi Shastri, on the other hand, married his childhood friend Ritu Singh in 1990. The couple had a daughter, Aleka Shastri. Unfortunately, their marriage also ended in divorce after 22 years, in 2012. Ritu was granted custody of their daughter. Years later, Ravi Shastri was rumoured to be dating Bollywood actress Nimrat Kaur, but both firmly denied any romantic involvement, calling the rumours baseless.

Ravi Shastri: Cricket Career

Ravi Shastri is one of Indian cricket’s most familiar faces and voices. But long before he became a commentator and coach, he had a strong career as a cricketer.

Born in Bombay (now Mumbai), Shastri started young and rose quickly. At just 17, he made it to the Bombay Ranji Trophy team, he was the youngest ever at the time. A year later, he was playing for India. He began his career as a left-arm spinner, batting at number 10, but soon moved up the order. Eventually, he opened the batting and ended up playing in every position during his Test career.

Shastri’s batting was known for being very defensive, especially when India played overseas. But it worked, he scored 11 Test centuries, seven of them outside India, including on tough tours to England, Pakistan, and the West Indies. He also averaged an impressive 77.75 against Australia in the 1980s.

One of his biggest moments came in 1985, when India won the World Championship of Cricket in Australia. Shastri played a key role in that win and was named Player of the Tournament and famously won an Audi car. He also made history in domestic cricket by hitting six sixes in an over, a rare feat.

After retiring, Shastri became a popular commentator. His bold voice and catchy one-liners became part of India’s biggest cricketing moments like the 2011 World Cup win and Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes.

He later moved into coaching. He helped India recover from setbacks and took charge as head coach in 2017, working closely with Virat Kohli. Under his leadership, India won their first Test series in Australia in 2018-19 and developed one of the strongest fast-bowling units in Indian history. Although India lost in the 2019 World Cup semi-final, Shastri was given an extension as coach until the 2021 T20 World Cup.

[Rh/Eth/VP]