When Mahima Chaudhry Accused Leander Paes Of Cheating On Her With Sanjay Dutt's Second Wife, Rhea

Bollywood actress, Mahima Chaudhry is best known for her debut film, Pardes, directed by Subhash Ghai. The actress once made headlines not just for her acting stint but also for her high-profile relationship with former Indian tennis player, Leander Paes. The two were reportedly in a relationship for about three years, with Mahima often seen supporting him at his matches.

However, their love story took an unexpected turn when Mahima accused Paes of infidelity, claiming that he cheated on her with model, Rhea Pillai, who was then married to actor Sanjay Dutt.

Mahima Chaudhry and Leander Paes’s breakup news resurfaces

Recently, a clip from an old news report resurfaced on social media, from the time her breakup buzz broke out years ago. The actress was romantically involved with former tennis player, Leander Paes, but their relationship ended on a bitter note in 2003 when rumours about his affair with Sanjay Dutt’s second wife, Rhea Pillai, came forth. In the old news that resurfaced on the discussion platform, Reddit, Mahima was quoted as saying:

“Mujhe bohot bada jhatka laga jab maine suna ki wo mere pith peechey kisi or ko bhi date kar raha hai. Jab wo meri zindagi se gaya, toh meri life mein koi changes nahi aaye. meri life zara bi impact nahi huyi. Main or bhi zyada mature ho gayi.”

See the post here.

When Mahima opened up about her heartbreak post-divorce from Paes

Mahima once spoke to Miss Malini, candidly opening up about the heartbreak she endured during her relationship with Paes. She also mentioned his illicit affair with Rhea Pillai, who was married to veteran Bollywood actor, Sanjay Dutt at that time. Mahima shared:

“He may be a good tennis player, but he didn’t play fair with me. It wasn’t really shocking for me when I came to know that he was going around with someone else. His exit had no impact on my life. In fact, I became more mature as a person. I feel he did the same thing with Rhea (Pillai) as well.”

Leander Paes’s relationship history

Mahima’s revelations in the interview suggested that Leander Paes had a pattern of infidelity. After his breakup with Mahima, he moved on with Sanjay Dutt’s second wife, Rhea Pillai. After parting ways with Mahima, Leander Paes and Rhea Pillai were together for several years and even had a daughter.

However, Leander and Rhea’s relationship, too, ended on a bitter note, with Rhea accusing the former tennis player of domestic violence. Later, the court ruled in Rhea’s favour, demanding Paes to pay her a monthly rent of Rs. 50,000 and an additional Rs. 1 lakh as maintenance, given that she chose to move out of their shared home.

What’s next for Mahima Chaudhry?

On the professional front, Mahima Chaudhry made her glorious return to the silver screen with Emergency, a film directed by Kangana Ranaut. The film premiered on January 17, 2025, and featured Mahima as a cultural activist and writer, ‘Pupul Jayakar’, who shared a close bond with the Nehru family. Before this, she was seen in the OTT film, The Signature, co-starring Anupam Kher.

While Mahima has largely stayed away from the limelight in recent years, her revelations about her past relationship with Leander Paes continue to be a topic of discussion. What do you think about her relationship with the former tennis player?

Also Read: Govinda's Career Began To Face Setback After He Rejected A Superhit Film Because Of The Female Lead

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