Kunickaa Sadanand’s son recalls her past with Kumar Sanu: 'When I had girlfriends, my mother had boyfriends'

Kunickaa Sadanand has never shied away from speaking about her past with Kumar Sanu. The singer, who dominated the Bollywood music scene in the 1990s, faced turbulence in his personal life while married, and his affair with the actress became part of that chapter.

In a recent conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Kunickaa’s son Ayaan Lall spoke about how he discovered his mother’s past. He recalled, “When I had girlfriends, my mother had boyfriends.” Ayaan revealed that his mother’s relationship with Sanu began when she was 27. “I wasn’t even born then. I found out about it much later,” he said.

Asked about how he pieced it together, Ayaan responded with humour. “When I noticed she was singing his songs all day. I’m just kidding. But yes, she adores him as a singer. She still sings his songs.” He clarified rumours, adding, “People are saying it lasted 27 years, but she only meant that she was 27 at the time. It lasted a few years. She had me when she was 35.”

On whether Kunickaa still feels for Sanu, Ayaan was clear. “She genuinely loves the artiste. She doesn’t love the man anymore. And my mother isn’t obsessive. It’s not an ego thing. When I asked her about him, she told me he was once her soulmate. It was love, but toxic. Very, very toxic.”

Kunickaa herself had earlier shared details of the relationship in a separate interview with Kannan. She described their first meeting in Ooty, when she was filming and he was holidaying with family. Their bond deepened after a disturbing evening when, during dinner, a heavily inebriated Sanu threatened to jump from a hotel window. “He was depressed. His sister, nephew and I had to hold him back,” she recalled.

She said she became a support system for him, reminding him of his responsibilities as a father and helping with work commitments. “I got very emotional because he was truly suffering. That night brought us closer,” she admitted. Despite the emotional connection, she kept the relationship private out of respect for his family.

Kunickaa’s candidness, and now Ayaan’s reflections, add another layer to a story long hidden behind the music that made Kumar Sanu a household name.