Following their recent divorce announcement, Jay Bhanushali has addressed the online trolling directed at Mahhi Vij following her birthday post for friend Nadeem Nadz. The former couple, who recently ended their 16-year marriage on January 4, 2026, have been the subject of much scrutiny and speculation.
The controversy arose after Mahhi Vij shared a heartfelt birthday message for Nadeem Nadz, the CEO of Salman Khan Films, on Instagram. In the post, Mahhi referred to Nadeem as her "best friend," expressing deep affection and gratitude. The post read, "Happy Birthday to the one I chose, not by chance, but by heart. To the one who listens to me even when I don't say a word, to the one who stands by me not because he has to, but because he wants to — you are my family, my safe place, my forever. You are not just my best friend, you are my comfort, my strength, my home. With you, I can be myself — broken, happy, emotional, imperfect — and still feel completely accepted and loved". She further added, "You hold my hand when I'm weak, you believe in me when I forget to believe in myself, and you love me in ways that heal parts of me I didn't even know were broken. I love you, Nadim — not just for who you are, but for how you make me feel, for how you stand with me, for how you are my heart, my home, my family. Today and always".
The situation escalated when Mahhi disabled the comments section on the post, leading to increased speculation and online trolling, with many users romantically linking her to Nadeem.
In response to the unwarranted criticism, actress Ankita Lokhande defended Mahhi and Nadeem's relationship. Taking to her Instagram Story, Ankita clarified that Nadeem has always been a father figure to both Mahhi and Jay, as well as a father to their daughter Tara. "Today, I want to say something-not as a celebrity, but as a friend. I've been really disturbed by the way people are commenting on Mahi and Nadeem's relationship. I know Mahi, I know Nadeem, and I know Jai very well. And I need to say this clearly- Nadeem has always been a father figure to Mahi and Jai, and a father to Tara. That's it. Nothing else," Ankita wrote. She emphasized the strong bond of respect, love, and trust that exists between them, condemning the negativity and judgment from outsiders.
Jay Bhanushali has now publicly acknowledged the situation, expressing his agreement with Ankita Lokhande's statement. He reposted Ankita's message on his own Instagram Story, adding, "Thank You Ankita and I agree with every word you have said". Mahhi Vij also reposted Ankita's story, signaling her support, without adding any further comment. Furthermore, Mahhi had previously shared a photo of Nadeem with her daughter Tara, referring to him as "Abba". Jay himself was present at Nadeem's birthday celebration and shared heartwarming photos from the event on social media.
The divorce announcement from Jay and Mahhi stated that they have chosen to go their separate ways but remain committed to co-parenting their children – Tara, Khushi, and Rajveer. The couple requested privacy and emphasized their focus on maintaining a peaceful and supportive environment for their children.
