Filmmaker Rajiv Rai and his actress wife Sonam have finally parted ways after 25 years of marriage. The official divorce came through on July 25 this year. Rai, who is the son of noted producer Gulshan Rai, is known for films like Mohra, Gupt and Tridev.

When BT reached out to the director, he confirmed the news saying, “We decided to go in for a legal separation in June last year. The petition for divorce by mutual consent was filed on January 21, 2016. Sonam and I didn't have a showdown or argument. We've never had any verbal disagreements over this decision. There is no specific reason why things didn't work out for us. We were trying hard to make our marriage work but somewhere along the way it collapsed. It isn't anyone's fault. “ Rajiv and Sonam fell in love during the making of Tridev. After three years of courtship, they got married on January 21, 1991, when Sonam was at the peak of her career. She started off young and shot to fame with movies like Aakhri Adaalat and Ajooba. While Sonam quit her acting career post marriage, Rajiv made Gupt (1997). Around the same time he was targeted by the underworld.

After an attack on him outside his office, he decided to leave India for good. The couple settled in Los Angeles and then in Switzerland before shifting base to Mumbai again a few years ago. However, they have been living separately since 2001. “In these 15 years we went for holidays together where we stayed in separate rooms. We've travelled to different parts of the world for our son's education. Sonam and I held on to this marriage for so long, as we were waiting for our son to turn 18. He is 23 today and has accepted our decision with a lot of maturity. Had he vetoed it, we wouldn't have gone ahead with it“ says Rajiv.

The filmmaker, whose last film was Asambhav (2004), adds, “Our son said that both of us have every right to live our individual lives. The doors of both our houses are open for him and it is up to him to decide who he wants to stay with. Right now he is working with my production house.“

He maintains that Sonam and he are still the best of friends.“She has been a good wife and mother and I've no complaints. Don't be surprised if you spot us in a restaurant having lunch together,“ says Rajiv.

After an attempt was made on his life by the underworld in 1997, filmmaker, Rajiv Rai, known for hits like Tridev, Mohra and Gupt, flew abroad with his actress wife Sonam and their son Gaurav. Sonam had quit the industry at the age of 19 to marry Rajiv. After staying in Switzerland for a while, the couple moved to America and Sonam was spotted in Los Angeles at private film screenings.

Recently Ekta Kapoor thanked Rajiv for giving her the title 'Villain' for her movie. And coincidentally, when yet another filmmaker sought Rajiv out for some other movie clipping, they discovered that the filmmaker was right here in Mumbai with his wife and son. The Rai family has their home and offices here and their son goes to a South Mumbai college. Sonam continues to remain a homemaker while Rajiv is likely to start a film soon.