Ridhi Dogra Opens Up on Cordial Divorce with Raqesh Bapat, Says ‘We Saved Our Friendship’
Actor Ridhi Dogra recently spoke candidly about her relationship with ex-husband Raqesh Bapat, revealing that the two have remained close friends even after their divorce in 2019.
In a conversation on the Honestly, Why Not? With MNL podcast, Dogra shared that their decision to separate actually helped preserve their bond.
“My ex-husband and I are very good friends. We saved our friendship by stepping out of the marriage because we were not compatible as partners. But as friends, we trust each other, protect each other’s secrets, and stand up for one another,” said the 41-year-old actor.
Dogra, who married Bapat in 2011, also addressed societal expectations around divorce. She noted that people often expect a negative narrative, particularly for women.
“People want the woman to be a ‘bechari’ and assume there must be bitterness. That’s not always true. We should talk more about cordial and respectful divorces,” she added.
Her remarks have sparked a broader conversation about amicable separations, emotional maturity, and maintaining healthy boundaries after a relationship ends.
Psychotherapist Delnna Rrajesh explained that while friendship after divorce is possible, it is not always simple.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that staying friends after divorce is either always evolved or always impossible. In reality, it depends on the individuals, their emotional structure, the history of the relationship, and how the separation was handled,” she said.
According to her, a healthy post-divorce friendship requires strong emotional boundaries and genuine closure. “It’s not just about staying in touch. It’s about being able to relate in a new way without reopening old wounds or falling back into emotional dependence,” she added.
Experts also highlight that divorce is more than just a legal separation—it marks the end of a shared identity, future, and routine. Even in mutual separations, unresolved emotions can complicate attempts at friendship.
“True friendship after divorce becomes possible only when there is emotional closure. Closure doesn’t mean forgetting, but accepting what has ended,” Delnna explained, adding that both individuals must respect new boundaries and adapt to a completely different dynamic.
While such relationships are possible, she noted, they are not very common.
