They probably coined the term ‘swag’ after meeting Feroz Khan – he had tons of it. The problem with the flamboyant, charming, hugely attractive star, was that it was near impossible to keep him bound in the conformity of matrimony. Beautiful women were an inevitable part of his existence – they were drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

Khan made no secret about his dalliances. “I was quite a Casanova when I was a bachelor and was often spotted at clubs and parties with the most gorgeous women of Bollywood. I treat women with the respect that is due to them and this explains my large number of female friends. Unfortunately, I was branded as a womanizer by some people,” he had rued.

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Life changed when he met the lovely, high-spirited Sundari at a party. He was in love. Deeply, completely. It had to be marriage and nothing less. Five years later, their daughter Laila came into the world in 1970 followed by Fardeen in 1974. Inevitably, the passing years took their toll. No longer as smitten by his wife, the philandering side of Feroz’s nature started to reassert itself. His newest attraction? The young and lovely Jyotika Dhanrajgir from the royal Dhanrajgir family.

His open affair with Jyotika – she even moved in with him at his Bangalore ranch - took a heavy toll on wife Sundari. While Feroz chose to deny his affair, claiming, “There were no fights and there was nobody else in our lives – we just grew apart,” the truth was painful. For Sundari, who had doted on her husband and whose whole life revolved him and their children, his unfaithfulness was a nasty blow. Much later, after she had come to terms with her loss, she admitted, “I can say I became independent only when my back was against the wall. It was an overnight decision. I packed my bags and moved downstairs. Feroz and I lived under the same roof; the only difference was that he was most of the time away in Bangalore with his new lady. It took me nearly a year to adjust to the emotional upheaval and to the solitude. I missed the life of a wife but not the life of Mrs. Khan.”

Sundari had been candid about her decision to leave. “My walking out was a bit of a shock to Feroz. He must have thought like a typical husband and wondered where I would go at this stage with the kids. But I must give him credit for giving me and the kids a decent home and life. Today, I’ve reached a point where I am actually enjoying my business.” Her work, as a designer, helped her get a grip on herself. “I broke free from the emotional turmoil,” she stated.

After a couple of years, Feroz’s relationship with Jyotika also fizzled out. He mended his relationship with his wife and kids to a large extent. “We are divorced…but it does not alter our feelings or our commitment towards our children as parents. I have been responsible in my relationships. I have been a fair father,” he maintained. He spent most of his time at his Bangalore farmhouse amidst his beloved horses. It was entirely in keeping with his need for space and his mantra – “Life for me is a journey to relish and reflect.”