Harsh Chhaya Breaks Silence on Divorce From Shefali Shah, Reveals He Went on ‘Multiple Dates’ After Split
Actor Harsh Chhaya recently opened up about his divorce from Shefali Shah, revealing that he foresaw the split months in advance but still went through a difficult period of emotional grief and regret. To cope with the separation, he eventually chose to confront his feelings and navigated the healing process by going on multiple rebound dates over a few months.
Actor Harsh Chhaya has opened up about his divorce from actor Shefali Shah, sharing details about the emotional aftermath of their separation and his subsequent decision to enter the dating scene. In a recent interview, Chhaya reflected on how he coped with the split, revealing that he experienced a period of intense grief before transitioning to "rebound dates." Chhaya and Shah, who shared screen space in the popular 1990s television show Hasratein, married in 1994 and separated in 2000 after six years of marriage. ‘This Can Kill Me’: Shefali Shah Opens Up About Emotional Abuse During First Marriage With Harsh Chhaya, Reveals It Broke Her Completely (Watch Video).
Harsh Chhaya on Split With Shefali Shah
Reflecting on the timeline leading up to their separation, Chhaya indicated that the breakdown of the marriage did not come as a surprise. "It is a very personal case-to-case kind of thing. Our case was very clear, I could see that the relationship was hitting a dead end," Chhaya said in an interview with The Lallantop. He noted that he foresaw the separation several months before it became official. "When I was told, 'I cannot stay with you anymore'; 8-9 months before that, I knew this was coming. I was prepared." To cope with the initial shock, Chhaya initially immersed himself in his career.
"For me, even though I know what is happening, at that moment I don't let it affect me mentally, so I focus on work, on myself, because I left Delhi and came to Mumbai for this," he explained.
However, Chhaya admitted that he eventually had to confront his emotions rather than trying to project a strong exterior. He described going through a difficult five-to-six-month phase filled with regret and emotional outbursts before finding a path toward healing. "You need to try and stay sane when a situation like this comes; if you are uncomfortable, live with it, don't try to show yourself as strong," Chhaya said.
"I lived with it for 5-6 months, regretted, shouted, etc."The turning point came when he began opening up to others about his experiences, which led him back into the dating world."One day, I saw that you are under stress, and everyone around you is willing to listen to your story and share their views. Once I spoke to someone, we discussed each other's issues, and later we went on a date; it happened a few times and I made it a formula," Chhaya revealed.
Harsh Chhaya Says He Went on Multiple Dates After Split With Shefali Shah
"I went on multiple dates over 2-3 months. It takes time, you don't have to show your bravery, rather show what you are feeling." Chhaya also spoke about the societal stigma often attached to failed marriages, arguing that separation should be handled pragmatically when a relationship is no longer viable. "Two people can't stay together 24/7; I cannot live with my clone for 365 days," Chhaya said.
"For me, divorce is not a big deal; in fact, if it has to happen, it should happen sooner rather than later, so the relationship is not dragged."He further noted that the former couple chose to expedite the legal process once the decision was made. "When we decided, we got our application back-dated, declaring that we had been living separately for six months. We acted on it quickly."
Watch Harsh Chhayas Interview With The Lallantop:
More than two decades after their separation, both individuals have built new lives. Following the divorce, Shefali Shah married filmmaker Vipul Amrutlal Shah in 2000, and the couple has two sons, Aryaman and Maurya. Shah has achieved significant acclaim for her performances in prominent projects, including the International Emmy-winning series Delhi Crime. ‘Delhi Crime S3’ X Review: Shefali Shah and Huma Qureshi Shine With Their Strong Performances and Socially Relevant Story, Netizens Call the Netflix Series ‘Dark, Raw and Relevant’.
Harsh Chhaya moved on to marry actor Suneeta Sengupta in 2003. He continues to work steadily in the entertainment industry and was recently seen in the streaming series Undekhi.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 19, 2026 12:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
