From love at first sight to divorce: The tragic love story of ex-India captain Md Azharuddin and Sangeeta Bijlani

Sangeeta was a budding actress-cum-model when she met Mohammad Azharuddin for the first time. Azhar later said at an event that it was love at first sight. “I met Sangeeta Bijlani during an ad shoot in 1985. Yes, it was love at first sight. Nobody talks about this so openly... But I am telling you,” Azhar had once said.

During the India Today Mind Rocks event Azharuddin also talked about the connection between cricket and Bollywood. “Cricket and Bollywood have had a long-standing relationship because of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and the relationship will continue I think, kyunki ye to dil ki baat hai (because it's a matter of the heart).Getting married to an actor or cricketer is a personal choice and when there are two stars in question it becomes easier to deal with all the attention. The understanding becomes easier when cricketers and actors get married,” he had said.

Sangeeta Bijlani and Azharuddin got separated in 2010. Speaking about marriage and relationships, she was quoted as saying  in an interview, “The woman could be everything wonderful and the man may still stray. The old saying “keep-your-husband-happy-so-he-won’t-stray” puts too much burden on a woman. I do feel that people can create a pattern in marriage that is not enhancing, and the man instead of dealing with the dissatisfaction and complex within himself and trying to work on the relationship, escapes it and goes some place else to feel better about himself." 

According to reports, Sangeeta Bijlani has not been in touch with Azharuddin ever since their divorce.

It is said that Sangeeta was all set to tie the knot with Salman Khan but the marriage did not happen due to Salman's growing interest with another model.