Mumbai: Celina Jaitly Haag, a former Miss India and Bollywood actor, has initiated legal proceedings against her husband, Peter Haag, under the Domestic Violence Act. The couple, married for 14 years, is embroiled in a contentious dispute, with Celina accusing Peter, an Austrian national, of making racist remarks and undermining her financial independence and dignity.

Represented by Karanjawala & Co, Celina is seeking Rs 10 lakh in monthly maintenance and Rs 50 crore in compensation. She claims that Peter restricted her from pursuing her Bollywood career, forcing her into lesser roles to cover personal expenses. The family, after living in Mumbai, Dubai and Singapore, eventually settled in a remote Austrian village. According to the plea, Celina was left without access to money or transportation in this isolated location, and Peter allegedly belittled her by suggesting she find work as a cleaner in the village.

The complaint further details an incident on Sept 3, when Peter allegedly served her a divorce notice in a "calculated and deceitful" manner. The divorce proceedings were filed by Peter in Austria. Celina claims that Peter tricked her into accompanying him to the post office under the pretence of collecting a "gift". Upon presenting her ID, she received a sealed German envelope, which Peter dismissed as routine correspondence. It was only at home, with the help of her 13-year-old twin sons, that she discovered it was a divorce notice. Celina also alleges that Peter offered no support during her brother's detention in the UAE.

The first divorce hearing on Sept 22, 2025, was reportedly distressing for Celina. She claims Peter attended in his wedding suit, which she perceived as an attempt to cause emotional harm. Additionally, she struggled to understand the "high-level German" proceedings and received inadequate assistance from the court-appointed interpreter, for which she was charged a €500 (Rs 50,000) fee. Celina felt victimized by a perceived racial and cultural bias within the Austrian judicial process, exacerbated by Peter's legal representative allegedly belittling and intimidating her in court.

Celina's complaint also highlights consistent verbal and emotional abuse, including racist and degrading remarks. She claims Peter frequently used profanity and referred to her as his "maidservant" or "the help". The plea states that Celina, a mother of three, is currently unemployed and unable to afford legal representation. It alleges that Peter has blocked her access to their children, who are in his custody in Austria, and seeks an order for unhindered virtual and telephonic access to them. The complaint was presented before SC Tadye, Judicial Magistrate First Class, Andheri, who issued a notice to Peter. The next hearing is scheduled for Dec 12.

Celina's complaint details a marriage registered on Sept 18, 2010, claiming her career and finances were systematically dismantled by Peter. She alleges he misappropriated Rs 1.26 lakh from her Versova flat's rental income and pressured her into signing a gift deed for the property while she was undergoing "severe depression" following the tragic death of her newborn twin son, Shamsher, and both her parents within a few months of each other.

The plea describes Peter as narcissistic and self-absorbed, with a short temper and alcoholic tendencies, accusing him of emotional, physical, verbal, and financial abuse. The complaint alleges that the abuse was so severe that Celina was eventually forced to "flee the home of the parties in Austria in the middle of the night" to return to India, leaving behind her three children.

Citing physical abuse, the complaint alleges an incident in Singapore where, after she asked him to wash feeding bottles, a drunk Peter struck her hard on her back, leaving a handprint. She was also physically pushed out of the apartment three weeks post-partum in Dubai after asking him to extend his paternity leave. She also alleged that a smartwatch worn by her began recording their exchange when Peter was allegedly aggressive with her in 2024.

Celina has also filed a civil suit in the Dindoshi civil court to cancel a gift deed transferring her Versova flat to Peter. The matter is pending for hearing and final disposal.

Peter's documents submitted as part of legal proceedings in Austria claimed that Celina is primarily interested in outward appearances, physical appearance, public image, and the attention she receives. The document is part of Celina's complaint in Mumbai.

Peter alleges that her main ambition is focused on this, leading to her devoting herself "extensively to her own beauty care and fitness". She is accused of having a "highly escalatory nature," "quarrelsomeness," "erratic behaviour and aggression, screaming, and anger." Peter also accused her of failing to achieve a higher German language level due to her "lack of commitment and willingness to learn". He alleged that he had to take over "almost all of the household management and childcare duties," including schooling and medical administration, to cope with her behaviour.

Actor Celina Jaitly has moved to a Mumbai court, accusing her husband, Austrian businessman Peter Haag, of domestic violence, financial coercion, and emotional cruelty. The application, filed under the Domestic Violence Act, has been admitted before the Judicial Magistrate in Andheri, and a notice has been issued to Haag, returnable on December 12.

Speaking to Bombay Times, Jaitly’s lawyer Niharika Karanjawala Misra confirmed the status of proceedings. “The case is before the regional magistrate in Andheri in Mumbai. It is a domestic violence case, and a notice has been issued returnable by 12 December.”

Misra said Jaitly approached her legal team earlier this month. “She reached out to us in November itself, and we filed the case on the 21st of November. The violence has been sort of on and off through them. It’s been continual through the marriage, unfortunately," she told us.

Jaitly has also sought financial relief with an alimony of Rs. 50 crores, which her lawyer confirms. “We have made a claim for alimony and for money required, as it was her funds primarily that were supporting the couple, her savings through the marriage. In 2017, Mr. Haag coercively induced her to transfer her Mumbai property to him in a gift deed. So, there is a separate civil litigation pending in Bombay for the reversal of that deed. And we also believe that this is money owed to her. They also purchased certain properties together in Vienna that he had sold without her knowledge," Misra told us.

Furthermore, Misra reveals to us that it was Jaitly's husband Haag who filed for the divorce first. “There’s also a divorce case pending in Austria filed by Mr. Peter Haag. He filed it earlier this year," she says.

On what could be the reason behind him filing for a divorce, the lawyer says, “Earlier this year… a fight broke out due to the fact that she discovered that he had sold their Vienna property. He has now filed against her in the court in Austria and is attempting to try and prove that he does not have to split any of the property with her, as he is blaming her for the breakdown of their marriage in the Austrian court. Something that we believe is very unfair. She even asked him to do a divorce by mutual consent for the sake of the children, but he was not willing to do that.”

The December 12 appearance will determine the next steps in the Mumbai case. “I think he will take time in order to file written submission giving his version of events, as he is in Austria," the lawyer adds.

Jaitly and Haag married in 2011 and are parents to three sons. Jaitly, known for films such as No Entry, Apna Sapna Money Money, Money Hai Toh Honey Hai, Golmaal Returns, and Thank You, moved to Austria post her wedding.

Actor Celina Jaitly has reportedly filed a domestic violence case against her husband Peter Haag in Mumbai seeking damages, child custody, and maintenance. Celina, who married the Austrian entrepreneur and hotelier on September 18, 2010, also alleges that he fraudulently took her property in India and sold their jointly-owned property in Austria.

Celina’s counsel Rytim Vohra Ahuja of Karanjawala and Company Advocates, told HT City says: “We have filed for virtual and telephonic access to their three children Winston, Viraaj and Arthur, maintenance of Rs. 10 lakh per month and damages of Rs. 50 crore for the physical and mental trauma caused to her.”

Ahuja adds, “During this period, Celina lost both her parents and in the same period she lost her child (Samsher), while she was in depression and her husband forcefully took the property via gift deed. We have filed a suit for cancellation of the gift deed.”

The Mumbai court has issued notice to Haag, with the next hearing on December 12. Celina returned to India on October 11, while the children remain with her husband. She hasn’t filed for divorce, though Haag did it in Austria earlier this year. Celina shared on social media her struggle during this turbulent period. HT City could not reach Haag for comment.