Celina Jaitly says divorce notice came as anniversary gift: Twins read it

Actor Celina Jaitly said her twin sons read out a divorce notice served in Austria before her 15th wedding anniversary. She said the episode led to a separation, custody dispute, financial strain and her return to India.

In Short

• Celina Jaitly said her sons unknowingly read out her divorce notice in Austria
• The actor said she sought only her assets and joint custody
• Jaitly then returned to India and later filed a domestic violence case.

Actor Celina Jaitly recalled receiving a divorce notice in Austria just before her 15th wedding anniversary, saying the document was read out to her by her twin sonS. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, the 44-year-old said she initially thought the letter was from the municipality or related to her residence status, and even joked with her husband about whether the authorities had sent her some money.

She said the notice, which she described as having been served on the pretext of a wedding anniversary gift, contained allegations against her and stated that the marriage had suffered an “irretrievable breakdown”. Jaitly also spoke about the separation process, custody of the children, her financial difficulties, and her later return to India, where she said she tried to rebuild her life with the support of a small circle of friends.

Speaking to India Today's Gaurav Sawant, Jaitly said her husband had dropped her below the hill where their house stood, and when she climbed up, her older twins were at home doing their homework. She said she did not want to spend time translating the letter herself and asked them to read it for her. “My twins had to read that terrible divorce notice,” she said.

Separation and custody

Recalling the period after the first hearing, Jaitly said the judge had asked the couple to try for an amicable separation until November. She said she had very little money in her bank account at the time and felt as if she was living through a nightmare, although part of her also felt relief because, in her words, she was in an abusive marriage “at some level”.

She said she agreed to separate amicably in the best interests of the children and immediately sent a request to her husband’s lawyers saying she did not want anything except her assets back, the money she had invested, and joint custody of the children. She said she had hoped both sides could remain friends.

What followed

Jaitly also described what she called a period of control and isolation. According to her, her husband was living on the top floor of the house while she stayed on the middle floor with the children. She said she had asked to continue living there for some time while she tried to begin working again and stabilise herself before deciding what would be best for the children.

She said she later received the message that she should “find a job here if you want to have access to the children”. She also recalled being told, “I’ll get you a job as a cleaner in the supermarket.” Jaitly said she does not look down upon any job, but added that people should work according to their abilities.

According to Jaitly, matters worsened when she learnt that efforts were allegedly being made to dispose of her assets in India. Fearing that she would be left penniless, she said she returned from Austria in the middle of the night with the help of neighbours. In the wider conversation, she also spoke about returning to India without a home, staying in a hotel for 10 days, and relying on a small circle of friends, including actor Preity Zinta, as she tried to rebuild her life.

Family and legal case

Jaitly married Austrian entrepreneur Peter Haag in 2010. The couple have twin sons, Winston and Viraaj, born in 2012, and another son, Arthur, born in 2017. She has previously spoken about losing her son Shamsher to a heart condition.

In November 2025, Jaitly approached the Andheri Magistrate Court in Mumbai, alleging domestic violence and cruelty. She sought financial compensation and claimed the abuse began soon after their marriage.

- Ends