Did you know Udit Narayan married his second wife without informing or divorcing the first? Know his love saga

Udit Narayan is a name most of us associate with timeless romantic ballads that have become part of Bollywood's musical legacy. Known for his soulful voice, he¡¯s the man behind songs like Papa Kehte Hain and many others. But behind the music, Udit's personal life has been anything but melodious. His love life has seen ups and downs, legal battles, and public scandals¡ªfar from the smooth love stories his songs suggest.

The Rise of Udit Narayan

Born on December 1, 1955, in Baisi, Bihar, Udit Narayan grew up in Nepal. It was there, in his early years, that Udit¡¯s passion for singing began. He worked as a staff singer for Radio Nepal, where his melodious voice earned him a scholarship to Mumbai. This move marked the start of his struggle to make it big in Bollywood. His big break came when composer Rajesh Roshan recognized his talent, leading to the offer of Papa Kehte Hain from Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.

The song became an instant hit and made him one of the top playback singers in no time.

Udit Narayan¡¯s love story

While Udit¡¯s voice melted hearts on screen, his real-life romance wasn¡¯t as smooth. Udit¡¯s first marriage to Ranjana Narayan Jha, whom he married in 1984, remained largely private at the time. However, as Udit¡¯s career took off, his personal life started to make headlines. By 1985, just a year into his marriage with Ranjana, Udit found love with Deepa Gahatraj, a woman from Nepal trying her luck in Bollywood.

Without informing or divorcing Ranjana, Udit married Deepa. Whether Deepa knew about Ranjana at the time is unclear, but what is certain is that Udit¡¯s actions would soon stir up trouble. It wasn¡¯t until 2006 that Udit¡¯s first wife, Ranjana, brought the secret to light. During a visit to Patna for a show, Ranjana entered the hotel where Udit was staying, causing a scene with the media.

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When Udit Narayan¡¯s first marriage came to light

She claimed that Udit had married Deepa without divorcing her or even informing her about the second marriage. "I have come here to seek justice," Ranjana said, according to The Hindu. "He kept me in the dark about his second marriage with Deepa... and now I have come to seek my rightful place."

Ranjana also revealed that Udit had silenced her for years, threatening to commit suicide if she ever spoke up. ¡°Whenever I threatened to go public about our marriage, he silenced me with threats of committing suicide. Now I have no fears and I will take legal recourse,¡± she added.

Udit Narayan initially denied but later accepted his first wife

Udit denied all claims, calling Ranjana ¡°some lady¡± in a statement that only fueled the tension. ¡°These are just attempts to malign me,¡± he told PTI. He insisted that he had never met Ranjana and denied the allegations, even claiming that he had been receiving threatening calls from her for years, which he dismissed as a common occurrence for artists.

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However, Ranjana came prepared. She presented photographs and legal documents proving their marriage and went to the State Women¡¯s Commission with her evidence. ¡°How can Udit marry another woman without divorcing me?¡± she asked. Despite numerous summons from the Women¡¯s Commission, Udit avoided appearing before them.

The situation reached a boiling point when the commission imposed an embargo on Udit¡¯s international travels. Faced with legal pressure, Udit finally agreed to meet Ranjana for an out-of-court settlement. After several months of back-and-forth, Udit publicly acknowledged Ranjana as his wife. "I, Udit Narayan, son of Harekrishna Narayan Jha, have accepted Ranjana as my wife and agreed to provide for her maintenance and upkeep," he said in a legal statement.

Ranjana, in turn, made it clear that she didn¡¯t want money, just respect. ¡°I have no complaint or grievances against Deepa or their son Aditya¡­ I have got what a wife should have,¡± she said. She also mentioned that her differences with Udit had been resolved, and she would continue living as his wife alongside Deepa.

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