How would I know if she loves the guy or not? My original statement was that he is considered a great catch by many female fans, certainly not an ugly “goblin”.

Even if she did not marry him because she was in love with him, the standard line in India is that you “grow to love” your arranged marriage partner. How common that is, I have no idea, but I’m supposed to believe it’s the norm, that India knows “real love” while the “west” only knows lust, hence so much divorce. That’s what I’ve been told constantly anyway. I Hope it’s true, for the sake of the people involved.

Right, but I think the crucial thing is that she didn’t just run off; she actively mis-led people and the search for her by calling her friend and telling her there were four strange men following her. That just smacks of immaturity and it comes off malicious.

I apologize for that. But statements like the following: a legal system based on “individual culpability” may not be sufficient in this case, veer dangerously close to advocating separate systems of law for minorities or immigrant groups. This is where multiculturalism goes wrong. Even if she may be coming from a different cultural background (what, like other Americans don’t marry unhappily out of desperation all the time?) and got into the marriage for the wrong reasons, under the law she should be treated the same (assuming she wasn’t forced into marriage). I understand your point that sometimes there’s just a lot of pressure and all options aren’t always available, but hey, that’s the legal system.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I don’t think anybody should be treated differently under the law. I was referring to the court of public opinion, i.e. this thread and the chorus of “sock it to her,” “throw the book at her,” etc.

You mean she does not love Abhishek, like she claims on TV? You are right, she does appear to be pretentious

She married for money? More status? The Bacchans and Rais are from compatible castes? Same religion? Same economic and cultural backgrounds? Is anything wrong with any of the above? Considering her origins, what exactly else is she supposed to marry for? Love? How common are strictly “prem ki shaadis” in her culture?

She followed the cultural norms. She married for no less or no more idealistic reasons than most people in India. People need to start asking their Nanis why they married their Nanajis before they criticise celebs for marrying for exactly the same reasons!

Look within my brothers and sisters, look within!

Exhibit A. is that Ash Rai chick and the goblin she married.

That “goblin” is considered quite the catch by many women.

Ash is a shrewd businesswoman as described by Oprah. For the lack of talent, she made no-kissing thing her selling point in Hollywood although she has done that before in Taal, Shabd etc. Abhishek is just a retirement plan for her, like 401K Remember the sexy Sridevi married Boney Kapoor just when she realised her career was ending and she had started to look like a err goblin or maybe like a suckedout mango lol

A sense of new found freedom wherein these young women actually start to feel (understand) they can, horror of all horrors, leave a marriage that is not fulfilling them.

When the ex-husbands then go on to marry a second time, I wonder where they go to find a wife.