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Rushdie and Lakshmi split up: Who dumped whom?: Hindustan Times
London, Feb 10: Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie and his Indian-born model and actress wife Padma Lakshmi have split up. Rushdie says he dumped her because he no longer found her `intellectually challenging` enough. Lakshmi, 32, and 20 years younger to Rushdie is said to have told her friends that she grew bored of the 55-year-old author.
London, Feb 10: Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie and his Indian-born model and actress wife Padma Lakshmi have split up. Rushdie says he dumped her because he no longer found her "intellectually challenging" enough. Lakshmi, 32, and 20 years younger to Rushdie is said to have told her friends that she grew bored of the 55-year-old author.
Rushdie had met Padma in 1999, after which he moved from London to live with her in New York. But according to the Sunday Mail, Lakshmi is said to have claimed that the reason for the break-up is the fact that she lives in Los Angeles, where she has a film company, while Rushdie lives in Manhattan.
It is claimed that the couple parted company shortly before Christmas. A friend of thrice divorced Rushdie, said, "Salman is very gutted. He is very wounded and down about things. And he was lonely over Christmas. They have definitely split up.
"Salman was telling everybody that he had ended the relationship but in fact it was Padma who ended things. She is living in Los Angeles, he is living in New York and everything is over."
Most of his friends aver that he has been depressed by the break-up. Rushdie left his third wife, London-based author and publisher Elizabeth West and son Milan to be with Lakshmi in USA. He is said to have agreed to a £5million settlement in his divorce from West.
Rushdie is said to have told his friends including Nigella Lawson and Martin Amis that he ended the affair because Lakshmi was not "intellectually challenging." But a friend is quoted, saying, "Salman has been saying it was he who ended things because Padma was not intellectual enough for him. I think his exact words were that she did not challenge him enough anymore. He also said they did nor spend much time together."
Padma was off filming in India. But they were in touch and seeing each other quite regularly. It was a case of growing apart. People who know him well are not that surprised.
"She's a beautiful actress who took up with a famous writer, who is now not so famous. He is not in news as he always was. She got bored of him. It's as simple as that."
A source close to Padma said that despite the split she remained fiercely loyal to Rushdie. A friend added, "Padma will not change a thing about it."
Rushdie, who has been in London for the past few weeks for the West End production of his novel Midnight's Children, has been seen roaming about freely at the Barbican Centre and holding question-and-answer sessions.
Bureau Report
Rushdie had met Padma in 1999, after which he moved from London to live with her in New York. But according to the Sunday Mail, Lakshmi is said to have claimed that the reason for the break-up is the fact that she lives in Los Angeles, where she has a film company, while Rushdie lives in Manhattan.
It is claimed that the couple parted company shortly before Christmas. A friend of thrice divorced Rushdie, said, "Salman is very gutted. He is very wounded and down about things. And he was lonely over Christmas. They have definitely split up.
"Salman was telling everybody that he had ended the relationship but in fact it was Padma who ended things. She is living in Los Angeles, he is living in New York and everything is over."
Most of his friends aver that he has been depressed by the break-up. Rushdie left his third wife, London-based author and publisher Elizabeth West and son Milan to be with Lakshmi in USA. He is said to have agreed to a £5million settlement in his divorce from West.
Rushdie is said to have told his friends including Nigella Lawson and Martin Amis that he ended the affair because Lakshmi was not "intellectually challenging." But a friend is quoted, saying, "Salman has been saying it was he who ended things because Padma was not intellectual enough for him. I think his exact words were that she did not challenge him enough anymore. He also said they did nor spend much time together."
Padma was off filming in India. But they were in touch and seeing each other quite regularly. It was a case of growing apart. People who know him well are not that surprised.
"She's a beautiful actress who took up with a famous writer, who is now not so famous. He is not in news as he always was. She got bored of him. It's as simple as that."
A source close to Padma said that despite the split she remained fiercely loyal to Rushdie. A friend added, "Padma will not change a thing about it."
Rushdie, who has been in London for the past few weeks for the West End production of his novel Midnight's Children, has been seen roaming about freely at the Barbican Centre and holding question-and-answer sessions.
Bureau Report