A high-profile love triangle resurfaces as Mahima Chaudhry reveals betrayal involving Leander Paes and Rhea Pillai
MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Mahima Chaudhry has alleged that former tennis star Leander Paes cheated on her during their relationship, revealing details of a past personal controversy involving Rhea Pillai, the then-wife of actor Sanjay Dutt.
In media interviews cited by reports, Chaudhry said she and Paes were in a relationship for nearly three years in the early 2000s, during which she frequently supported him at his matches. The relationship ended abruptly in 2003 when she discovered Paes was simultaneously involved with another partner.
“I was shocked to learn he was dating someone else behind my back,” Chaudhry said, adding that while Paes may have been a great athlete, “he did not play fair” in their relationship.
Reports at the time linked Paes with Pillai, sparking widespread attention across entertainment and sports circles. Chaudhry said the experience was emotionally difficult but helped her grow stronger and more mature.
Subsequent reports suggested Paes and Pillai remained together for a period, though their relationship later deteriorated, with allegations of domestic disputes surfacing.
The episode remains one of the most talked-about controversies linking Bollywood and the sports world, resurfacing in media discussions years later.
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