Actor Celina Jaitley spoke about one of the most painful chapters of her life, revealing how actress Preity Zinta became her biggest pillar of support as she dealt with marital issues, legal battles and the emotional fallout of rebuilding her life.Speaking to India Today, Selena recalled her return to India at a time when she had no place to call home. She said she had to rely on a few trusted friends while fighting to regain access to her home.“When I returned to India, I did not have my own home. I stayed in a hotel for 10 days in a hotel owned by a friend who I asked to give me a discount. I stayed so that I could go to court and get a warrant to enter my house. With my father and my brother not there, I found comfort in having a friend or two stay.”
The actress said that many people offered their support during that difficult stage, including a director, a producer, and some of her late father’s colleagues. However, she said that it was Preity Zinta who stood by her when she needed someone the most.“Above all, Preity Zinta. That woman stood like a rock. She is the only one who realized how broken I was. Thanks to her, I went to Ma Baglamukhi temple in Dharamsala and Ujjain.”
“When I went to Ujjain, I realized that returning to my sanatana dharma and my roots is my true calling,” she added.Selena also spoke about the series of personal losses that deeply affected her life. She spoke about the loss of her parents, the heartbreaking death of one of her twin sons, and the pain of seeing her brother in prison. Given everything she’s endured, the actress said she often feels as if she’s “living in a script I didn’t sign up for.”Holding back tears during the conversation, Selena admitted that there are nights when she wakes up overwhelmed by the weight of her experiences and wonders how much more she can handle. However, she said she somehow musters the strength to move forward, accept what is beyond her control and face each new day with resilience.Meanwhile, Selena remains embroiled in a legal dispute with her estranged husband, Peter Haag.
According to Mumbai-based law firm Semwal & Co, both Peter and his father, DI Wolfgang J Haag, have served separate legal notices on the actress, alleging that she made defamatory statements in interviews and on social media amid the ongoing divorce and child custody proceedings.The notices deny Selena’s allegations of abuse, harassment and intimidation and also take issue with her repeated public references to their three children.
They are reportedly seeking to remove the allegedly defamatory content, make a public apology, and have warned of the possibility of civil and criminal action if their demands are not met.Earlier, Mumbai Police had reportedly registered an FIR against Peter based on Celina’s complaint. The actor has also initiated proceedings under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 and is said to have sought maintenance and compensation.
She also claimed she was denied access to her children despite joint custody arrangements.Selena and Peter tied the knot in 2010. The couple has three children after losing one of their twin sons to a heart condition in 2017. Their divorce and child custody case is currently being heard in Austria.On the professional front, Celina is all set to return to Hindi cinema with *Sister Nivedita*, directed by
Ram Kamal Mukherjee
. Talking about the film, she told HT City, “Working with a visionary filmmaker like Ram is unlike any other acting experience for me. With directors of his caliber, you don’t just play a character, you surrender yourself to become the spirit of that era.”