Was Anil Mehta Malaika Arora's Stepfather? Fans Ask Many Questions

Actress Malaika Arora is heartbroken by the sudden demise of her father Anil Kuldeep Mehta, who tragically committed suicide by jumping off the terrace of his Mumbai home on Wednesday morning Malaika then shared a heartbreaking post about the incident on Instagram However, her father's surname has caused confusion among fans, as many believed his last name was Arora The discrepancy has sparked several questions and speculations online

Fans question the name difference

Several comments on her Instagram post raised questions about this, with one user asking, "How is her last name Arora and her father's last name Mehta?" another speculated, "Is he her stepfather?" Adding to the confusion, some fans pointed out the small age difference between Malaika and her father "Father is only 12 years older than her? How is that possible?" one user questioned, leading to further speculation

Anil Mehta confirmed to be his stepfather

In response to growing speculation, a close source confirmed to media outlets that Anil Mehta is indeed Malaika's stepfather. Malaika's biological father, Anil Arora, was a Punjabi who worked in the Indian Merchant Navy, while her mother, Joyce Polycarp, is a Malayali Christian. Malaika's parents separated when she was 11 years old, after which she and her sister Amrita Arora lived with their mother in Chembur, Mumbai. According to claims made in various media reports, Joyce was married to someone else before marrying Anil Mehta. She became the mother of Malaika and Amrita from her first husband and later they got separated.

Tragic incident in Bandra

The tragic incident that took Anil Mehta's life took place on Wednesday morning at his residence in Ayesha Manor building in Bandra, Mumbai. According to reports, Anil Mehta fell from the sixth-floor balcony around 9:00 am, when Malaika was travelling to Pune for an event. Malaika's mother Joyce Polycarp shared details of the incident with the Mumbai police. She remembered seeing Anil's slippers in the living room that morning, following which she began searching for him. When he was not found on the balcony, she leaned over the railing and noticed something was very wrong.

Post shared after death 

"We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father Anil Mehta. He was a gentle soul, a devoted grandfather, a loving husband and our best friend" "Our family is deeply shocked by this loss, and we request privacy from the media and well-wishers during this difficult time. We appreciate your understanding, support and respect. With gratitude, Joyce, Malaika, Amrita, Shakeel, Arhaan, Azaan, Ryan, Casper, XL, Duffy and Buddy"