The news of Urmila Matondkar filing for divorce from her husband Mohsin Akhtar Mir, after eight years of marriage, has taken many by surprise. According to sources from a Mumbai court, Urmila filed for divorce around four months ago, and reports suggest that the separation is not amicable. We reached out to the couple for a comment but there was no response. While the reason behind the separation is still not known, let’s take a look at Mohsin’s background, early career and relationship with Urmila.
Mohsin Akhtar Mir is a Kashmiri businessman and model who gained recognition in the Indian entertainment industry through his marriage to Urmila Matondkar.Born and raised in Kashmir, Mohsin moved to Mumbai at the age of 21 with aspirations of becoming an actor. After bagging the second runner-up trophy in the Mr India competition in 2007, he initially appeared in a commercial alongside Preity Zinta, which helped him gain visibility in the entertainment world.
In 2009, Mohsin made his acting debut in the film It’s A Man’s World, followed by a short role in Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance, where he played a rival to Farhan Akhtar’s character. Despite his efforts, his acting career did not gain momentum, leading him to focus towards entrepreneurship. He started a Kashmiri embroidery business and is currently associated with Manish Malhotra’s label, showcasing the rich heritage of Kashmiri craftsmanship.
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Mohsin’s relationship with Urmila brought him into the limelight. The couple first met at designer Manish Malhotra’s niece Riddhi Malhotra’s wedding in 2014, and their bond deepened over shared interests and values despite a 10-year age difference. They married in a private ceremony on February 4, 2016, surrounded by close family and friends.
Their inter-faith marriage, however, did not come without challenges. Urmila has spoken about the severe trolling and backlash they faced online. In a previous interview with Mojo Story, she shared her shock at the level of hate directed at Mohsin and his family. “He was called a terrorist, a Pakistani. I mean, there is a limit to where it should go… They have even infiltrated my Wikipedia page and altered my family details,” she explained.
She added, “To top it all, my husband is not only a Muslim but a Kashmiri Muslim. We both follow our religions in an equally staunch way. That gave them a bigger platform to troll me and constantly target him and his family. It was very unfortunate.”
