Anurag Kashyap's Unconventional Love Story: From Aarti Bajaj to Kalki Koechlin and the Search for Solace

Anurag Kashyap, the acclaimed Indian filmmaker known for his distinctive and often dark cinematic narratives, has also led a public and at times tumultuous romantic life. His journey through love has been as unconventional and candid as his films, marked by two marriages and several significant relationships that have frequently garnered media attention. Kashyap has always been open about his personal experiences, including the challenges and lessons learned from his romantic entanglements.

His first significant relationship blossomed during his college years with Aarti Bajaj, an accomplished film editor. They dated for an extensive period of nine years before tying the knot in 1997. Their marriage lasted for over a decade, during which they welcomed their daughter, Aaliyah Kashyap. The couple eventually divorced in 2009, reportedly due to the immense professional pressures Anurag faced during the initial phase of his career. Despite their separation, Anurag and Aarti have maintained an amicable relationship, often collaborating professionally and co-parenting their daughter.

Following his divorce from Aarti, Anurag Kashyap found love again with actress Kalki Koechlin. They first met on the set of his critically acclaimed film Dev.D in 2009, where Kalki made her debut. Their connection deepened, leading to a live-in relationship, and they married in April 2011 in Ooty. The couple was often seen as a progressive and artistic pair in the industry, admired for their intellectual compatibility. However, their marriage faced challenges, and they announced they were taking time apart in 2013.

The separation was followed by their official divorce in May 2015. Kalki later spoke about the difficulties, citing Anurag's "unstable temperaments" and the pressures of public life as contributing factors to their split. Despite the end of their marriage, both Anurag and Kalki have consistently expressed mutual respect and admiration, remaining good friends and supporting each other's work. Anurag once publicly stated that losing Kalki was one of the biggest losses of his life.

In 2014, after his separation from Kalki, rumors briefly circulated about a potential link-up between Anurag Kashyap and actress Huma Qureshi. However, Kashyap vehemently denied these reports, stating that such speculation was baseless and unfairly impacted Huma's reputation. He clarified that their public appearances were often misconstrued, emphasizing that they were merely friends and colleagues.

Later in 2014, Anurag was reportedly in a relationship with Sabrina Khan, an assistant director on his film Bombay Velvet. They met at a party and were said to have instantly bonded, even taking a trip to Europe together. This relationship, however, was relatively short-lived, with reports indicating they parted ways within about a year of dating. Anurag had previously stated that age never mattered to him, as Sabrina was considerably younger.

His most recent publicly known relationship was with Shubhra Shetty, who was an assistant director at his production house, Phantom Films. Rumors of their romance began circulating around 2015, and their relationship was later confirmed by Anurag, who often shared pictures with her on social media. The significant age difference between them (over 20 years) drew considerable attention. Shubhra, who studied Mass Communication, was reportedly very supportive of Anurag's work and often expressed her affection for him publicly.

While their relationship was confirmed in 2018 and they were reportedly in a live-in arrangement, recent statements from Anurag Kashyap suggest a shift in his romantic outlook. In a May 2024 podcast with his daughter Aaliyah, Anurag revealed that he has realized he is "not a relationship person" and has no plans to marry again. He attributed this to his intense dedication and obsession with his work and films, suggesting that his career demands make it difficult for him to fully commit to conventional relationships. This indicates that his relationship with Shubhra Shetty, if not officially ended, has evolved from its previously public status, with Anurag now embracing a more solitary approach to his personal life, prioritizing his cinematic endeavors.