'Elizabeth Hurley-Arun Nayar split may not get ugly’

With Hollywood actors Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds announcing the end of their 3-year-old marriage as well as the split of actress Elizabeth Hurley and Mumbai businessman Arun Nayar that caused a ripple in society circles everywhere, ‘tis certainly the season for celebrity break-ups. But at least in the case of the latter, it’s all not going to be public knowledge. Mrunalini Deshmukh, who was Nayar’s former Italian model-wife Valentina Pedroni’s lawyer reveals why their au revoir may not be privy to all. 

Earlier, it was mental cruelty...
While the buzz is that the 45-year-old model and textile tycoon are thought to have already drawn up details of their settlement, the issue with Arun’s ex-love was different.

“In the case of his earlier marriage, Nayar filed for divorce in India and he cited mental cruelty. Unlike the West, having ‘irreconcilable differences’ are not grounds enough for a person to file for divorce. But a marriage can legally be ended only for mental cruelty, infidelity or a partner’s psychiatric disorder or if partners choose to dissolve their marriage by mutual consent. A bill has been tabled for making ‘irretrievable breakdown’ of marriage as a ground for contesting divorce.” However, sources say there is some opposition from feminist groups who fear that the husband will just use this path to abandon their wives at will. While Pedroni had denied the charges, the case was later moved to London, where the divorce was finalised by mutual consent. 
 
‘Arun is dignified’…
Deshmukh had then found Arun to be a ‘very nice person’. “Arun had felt Valentina mistreated him but all that of course does not survive now. In the present, I find Liz and Arun’s speculated ‘no prenup’ deal a little odd, but that is perhaps because they must have been quite in love at some point.”

She adds, “Their split may not get ugly. Even earlier there were no fights and unpleasant scenes. My guess is that it may be the same now as cases can drag on, plus celebs don’t want a public tamasha. Most sensible people, celebrities included, don’t want to open up their private lives that way,” she reasons. Can one speculate about what is next? “Well, Arun and Liz are both not Indian citizens, but either one of them may file for divorce in Jodhpur as their place of marriage is there, but again, there are other issues too.” Have either party contacted her for any advice? “No, they have not approached me in this matter,” she says.

Correction December 20: The spelling of public has been rectified