Ashish Vidyarthi’s first wife Peelu broke silence after second marriage, said- ‘He never cheated on me’

On Thursday, 60-year-old Ashish Vidyarti tied the knot with 50-year-old entrepreneur Rupali Baruah in Kolkata. Peelu reveals that the two separated in 2021 and have been living happily ever since. Last October, they filed their divorce petition and remain friends.

Not many people knew that the two of you had split and the wedding photos were shocking. Was it a mutual decision not to announce the separation?

Peelu Student: Yes, we didn’t feel the need to tell people about it. We are not into media broadcast, PR and tell all. We both are good friends and we have maintained it till now. These 22 years were the best part of my life. If you ask him, he will probably say the same.

He has been a wonderful companion and we have traveled together over the years. We had many common interests. Obviously, we have different choices as well, but we’ve never had conflicts because basically we’re very similar. We are still the same. Our son, we have a beautiful son.

Tell me about the meaning?

Peelu Student: Ashish has contributed to our son’s upbringing. He is their friend and guide. People usually say that a mother is the one who does everything for the child, may be society sees it that way or even on screen, of course, a mother does a lot but a father too plays a huge role.

Arth is now working at Tesla in Austin. He has all the best qualities of his father. We both have contributed in raising a beautiful human being called Artha Vidyarthi. He is such a sensitive, mature, wonderful person and full of humour. He (among us) has understood everything beautifully.

Today a lot of things are going on on the internet about you and Ashish… what happened after all?

Peelu Student: It’s something I may not have realized before or maybe it was there but I just didn’t feel like expressing it. My child grew up and went abroad. As an artiste, I did what I wanted to do and nobody restricted me. But, when I researched, I realized my calling, and that’s when I came to know that our (mine and Ashish’s) future desires are different. He has every right to follow his dreams, whatever he wants to become in the future.

We’ve heard this thing – you have to compromise in a marriage. People get over it, we all do. But, many people may not know that it happens behind closed doors. You don’t know how much someone is compromising mentally or materialistically, it’s a thin line, and you can’t measure it. At least I can’t live like that, you see. What he wants is different from what I want, they don’t match being married. I know people who do this. I am not calling them wrong, but I see people posting long posts about their spouse on social media. Deep down I wonder how much of what we see on social media is true. Only they know the truth, right?

In my personal life, I have different needs now. I can no longer meet Mrs. Vidyarthi’s goal.

Coming to us, there was no torture, no hardship or anything like what people are speculating. We are two different people. For two years we tried to go our separate ways and now he is doing great in his career. I’ve been looking at a lot of backend stuff for the past five years. In my personal life, I have different needs now. I can no longer meet Mrs. Vidyarthi’s goal.

It must be tough, especially now that people are trying to figure out who did what…

Peelu Student: I would not have been able to make this decision without Ashish’s help. He handled it beautifully and made it easy for both of us. He used to say, ‘Let’s do this, do that and then see.’ I have heard of lawyers often getting into ugly battles but nothing like this happened between us.

I am troubled by the way people are interpreting us. This is not right. Ashish never cheated me. Even if people are thinking that he only wanted to do second marriage. This is completely false story.

Everyone deserves a second chance at love…

Peelu Student: Amar Bayer Dorkar ne Tai Ami by Corchina. Amar bire doorkar hole amio cortum (I don’t need to get married. I would have done it if necessary). I don’t need it. He needs a partner. We cannot hang a man because of his needs. He’s got someone which is a good thing.

When did you file for divorce?

Peelu Student: In October last year, we filed a petition together. No one has pushed anyone. It was completely mutual. I have spent a long time of my life as the daughter of Shakuntala Baruah and wife of Ashish Vidyarthi. Now the time has come that I want to walk my own path alone. I want my own identity and let it be clear, it was not that he ever crushed my identity. I just realized that he’s seeing a different future, I’m seeing a different one.

In today’s time people agree to go separate ways without doing much about it, we didn’t want to do that. So, we decided to remain friends instead. I will always be with you in prayers and best wishes. I’m sure he has nothing but good things in mind for me.