Ridhi Dogra and Raqesh Bapat were once one of the most loved couples on Indian television. The two met on the sets of Maryada, fell in love, and tied the knot on May 29, 2011. Their quiet yet strong bond surprised many fans, but after eight years of marriage, the couple parted ways in 2019. While the separation was amicable, Ridhi admitted it took time for her to adjust to the sudden solitude that followed.‘I used to enjoy people coming over… then I was alone’Ridhi, in a recent interview with Instant Bollywood, opened up about the emotional transformation she underwent after the divorce. From being a married woman who enjoyed a lively home, to living alone and slowly building a healthy relationship with herself, she shared how that chapter shaped her into the person she is today.“For me, he was home,” she said, admitting that she missed companionship for a long time. But over time, she learned to embrace her solitude and now enjoys her own company.Despite the heartbreak, Ridhi remains open to the idea of love. In fact, she calls herself a romantic at heart.“Why will I not be open to falling in love? I mean, I am always open to love. I am a big romantic and it takes very little time for me to fall in love. I am very picky,” she smiled.‘I let go of my self-worth for love, and no one should do that’When asked about the craziest thing she’s ever done in love, Ridhi didn’t sugarcoat her answer. She admitted that she once put herself down in the name of love, something she strongly advises others never to do.“Apne baare mai, apni self respect k baare mai fikr na kar k, maine beintah pyaar kiya. So I think that’s the craziest thing I did for love. Jo kisi ko v nahi karna chahiye. Because it’s a downslide.”She added that many people often mistake this behaviour for love, but clarified, “Yeh pyaar nahi hai.”
‘Don’t walk down that road’Ridhi explained that when someone compromises their self-worth for love, they eventually lose sight of their own identity. She urged people not to walk that path.“Please apne self-worth, self-respect ki dhajjiyan mat udayi. Because in return you will be left with the feeling of ‘Main kaun hu?’”Since her split from Raqesh, Ridhi has kept her personal life away from the public eye and hasn’t been linked to anyone romantically. Raqesh, on the other hand, dated Bigg Boss OTT co-contestant Shamita Shetty, but they reportedly parted ways in 2022.Professionally, Ridhi has only soared higher. She made her Bollywood presence felt in big-ticket films like Tiger 3 alongside Salman Khan and Jawan with Shah Rukh Khan, proving she’s carved out a space for herself beyond television.