Kumar Sanu abandoned his children, didn’t bother when two of them went missing during Mumbai floods, ex-wife claims: ‘He denied them milk, medicine’

Iconic Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu's first wife, Rita Bhattacharya, said that he has no relationship with their three sons.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | September 30, 2025 01:01 PM IST

3 min read

Kumar Sanu separated from wife Rita Bhattacharya when she was pregnant with their third child. (Express Archive)

Singer Kumar Sanu’s ex-wife, Rita Bhattacharya, said that not only did he abandon them when they were children, he continued to have nothing to do with them as they grew into adults. Rita said in an interview that she was pregnant with their third son when Sanu filed for divorce on the grounds of cruelty. She kept their Mumbai bungalow after the separation, but had to fend for herself and her sons while Sanu moved on with his life. She said that he doesn’t even wish them on their birthdays, and alleged that during the Mumbai floods of 2005, he showed no concern when two of his sons went missing. She said that this was one of the few times she reached out to him in the three-plus decades that they’ve been divorced.

In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Rita alleged that Sanu tried to stop their youngest son, Jaan, from joining the reality show Bigg Boss. She said that Jaan, who wasn’t even born when Sanu and her separated, still struggles to find work as a singer in the industry. Recalling the difficult circumstances of her third pregnancy, during which she was left to care for two young boys while dealing with divorce proceedings, she said, “He denied them milk. He denied them medical care. You don’t know how much this man has tortured my children. The milk man told me that he’d been told not to come over any more, but he said that he would still give me milk. Same with the doctor who’d delivered all three of my sons.”

Also read – Iconic Bollywood singer was so poor, he scrounged for fallen pennies on the street; sang at a dance bar, lived in a slum

Rita said that during the divorce proceedings, when she was pregnant with Jaan, Sanu would send her Rs 100 every day. “I sold all my jewellery. I have seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in life,” she said, adding that Sanu remained distant from his three children even as they grew up. “In this industry, many people have divorced their partners, but they remain close to their children. Not once has this man sent them a cake on their birthday. Nor did he wish them. During the 2005 floods, I called him for help,” Rita said.

She continued tearfully, “Zico and Jaan had gone missing. I was looking for them all night. It was terrifying. I thought I’d lose them. Even then, that man didn’t ask if his children are okay.” Rita said that her two older sons were three and one during the separation, and that her eldest son would call out for Sanu after he left. “Jaan has never even been held by his father,” she said. Rita accused Sanu of lying in past interviews, and said that she ensured that her sons get the best education that they could. She did this by selling off her possessions and investing wisely.

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