The Bombay High Court on Wednesday rejected an appeal filed by actor Anita Advani, who had sought legal recognition of her relationship with late superstar Rajesh Khanna as a marriage.The order was passed by Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, who dismissed Advani’s plea challenging a lower court’s decision. Earlier, in 2017, the Dindoshi Civil Court had thrown out Advani’s civil suit on technical grounds. She subsequently approached the High Court in appeal.After considering submissions from Advani’s counsel and legal representatives appearing for Dimple Kapadia, Akshay Kumar, and Twinkle Khanna, the High Court upheld the earlier ruling and dismissed the appeal.“First appeal is dismissed,” the court stated. The dispute between Advani and Kapadia has led to several legal battles since 2012, largely stemming from Advani’s assertion that she shared a relationship with Rajesh Khanna.Advani had also filed a criminal complaint before a Bandra Magistrate court, accusing Kapadia, Akshay Kumar, and Twinkle Khanna of domestic violence. She alleged that she was forced out of Khanna’s bungalow, Aashirwad, after his death.In 2015, however, a coordinate bench of the Bombay High Court quashed those domestic violence proceedings against Kapadia, Twinkle Khanna, and Akshay Kumar. The court had then ruled that Advani’s association with Rajesh Khanna did not amount to a relationship “in the nature of marriage” under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
