Why Did Rita Bhattacharya and Kumar Sanu’s Marriage Break Up?

Kumar Sanu is one of the most iconic and influential names in Bollywood playback singing. Known for his soulful voice and unmatched charm, he ruled the music industry in the 1990s and early 2000s with countless hit songs—many of which continue to be remade even today. Apart from Hindi, he has also lent his voice to songs in several other Indian languages, earning him widespread acclaim. Over the years, Kumar Sanu has built a long and successful career, marked by prestigious awards.

While his professional journey is widely celebrated, his personal life has also been a subject of public interest. He was first married to Rita Bhattacharya and later to Saloni Bhattacharya. In between, he had a brief relationship with actress Kunika Lal and a well-publicized affair with Bollywood star Meenakshi Seshadri. His love life has often stirred controversy, making headlines for multiple affairs and two marriages.

Kumar Sanu: Marriage, Relationship and Family

His first marriage was with Rita Bhattacharya during the mid-80s. It is said that the two knew each other since his days in Kolkata, and Sanu brought her to Mumbai while he went on to make his career in playback singing. They got married and were blessed with their first son Jessy in 1988, and later had two more adorable kids named Jeeko and Jaan.

They were living a happy life together, and Sanu was rising to great success, earning both name and fame. However, things took a turn when he got involved with a lesser-known actress of that time, Kunika Lal, in what became one of the shortest flings of his life.

After that, Sanu found himself getting more attracted to the then-famous actress Meenakshi Seshadri. She was one of the most appealing Bollywood actresses of the 90s era. She has been in famous movies like Ghar Ho To Aisa, Hero, Swati, Shahenshah, Damini, etc. She and Sanu first met during the premiere show of Mahesh Bhatt’s film Jurm. The movie’s famous song Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaaye was picturized on Meenakshi and was sung by Kumar Sanu himself.

She was beautiful, and Sanu was completely captivated by her. It was then that they started dating. They kept it hidden for around three years, but in 1993, during an interview given by Sanu’s secretary, Rita found something fishy. His secretary mentioned that “Kumar has many ‘girlfriends’, and for now, he is dating the popular actress Meenakshi Seshadri.”

Kumar first denied the affair initially, but eventually accepted his affair with her. And hence, in the year 1994, he was divorced from Rita. On their separation, Rita had retained the custody of her three children, and Kumar Sanu had access to his children only by paying a fixed alimony per month.

His relationship with actress Meenakshi also did not turn into marriage, as the actress eventually married investment banker Harish Mysore.

Then Sanu married his second wife, Saloni Bhattacharya, who belonged to a Bikaneri family in Rajasthan, with some of her family members settled in London. The couple was blessed with two daughters, Shannon and Ana. Both are currently living with their mother in London, being their permanent base.

Following in the footsteps of her father, Kumar’s daughter Shannon released her English music album in the year 2014 in the UK. He is living a happy life now with his family.

About: Kumar Sanu

Born on October 20, 1957, in Kolkata, Kumar Sanu—originally named Kedarnath Bhattacharya—was introduced to music early in life. His father, Pashupati Bhattacharya, a noted Bengali singer and musician, trained him in classical music from a young age. After completing his studies, Kumar moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in playback singing.

Despite facing initial struggles, his talent was noticed by renowned ghazal singer Jagjit Singh, who gave him a break in the film Aandhiyan (1990). However, his real breakthrough came with Aashiqui, a film whose soundtrack became a nationwide sensation. Songs like “Nazar Ke Samne,” “Dheere Dheere,” and “Bas Ek Sanam Chahiye” cemented his place as a leading voice of the era.

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

Kumar Sanu quickly became one of the most successful playback singers of the 1990s and early 2000s. His voice dominated Bollywood with timeless hits such as “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha,” “Tum Dil Ki Dhadkan Mein,” “Pardesi Pardesi,” and “Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein.” He has sung thousands of songs not only in Hindi but also in various regional languages.

In 1993, Kumar Sanu entered the Guinness World Records for recording 28 songs in a single day. He later recorded 161 songs in 30 days and over 1,100 songs in a single year—an unmatched feat in the industry. In recognition of his contributions to Indian music, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009. [Rh/VP]