Actor Bala, 41, recently made headlines for his marriage to his cousin Kokila, 24, the daughter of his maternal uncle. The couple tied the knot on October 23 at the Kaloor Pavakulam temple. According to various reports, it was suggested that Kokila was his fourth marriage, a claim which he has denied.
Speaking with Manorama Online, the actor asserted that he has only been married twice, stating that he wed his first wife, Chandana, at the age of 21. "Chandana was the girl I fell in love with when I was in school. We went to a temple and had a ceremony, but it was not a real marriage. At that age, we didn’t want her to marry someone else, and in our immaturity, we made that decision. Our families eventually separated us, and we couldn’t stay together. I still maintain a friendship with Chandana, and she is now happily living with her husband in America."
Bala said it was “absurd” that people think that his marriage with Kokila was the fourth time he tied the knot. "Do people really believe that I was married four times? It’s absurd. Legally, my second wife is Kokila. Chandana and Kokila have spoken to each other, and I was only 21 when I married. I even spoke to my ex-wife about it, and that marriage was eventually cancelled," he said.
The Big B actor also refuted claims that he married Elizabeth Udayan, who was alleged to be his third wife. "I never had a legal marriage with Elizabeth, and I don't want to get into any details about her. I hope she’s doing well in life. When I was in the hospital, she was the one who helped me, and I am grateful for that. She is truly a wonderful person, and I wish her all the best."
Bala did not mention singer-songwriter Amrutha Suresh in the interview, with whom he shares a 12-year-old daughter, Avantika. Last month, the actor was arrested following a complaint filed by Amrutha, and faced charges under Sections 74 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertain to outraging the modesty of a woman.
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Additionally, the actor was also booked under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, after Avantika released an emotional Instagram video detailing the abuse that her family had to endure at the hands of her father. Hours after he was arrested, Bala was granted conditional bail.
