Actor Celina Jaitly has opened up about one of the most painful chapters of her life, revealing how actor Preity Zinta became her biggest pillar of support as she navigated marital issues, legal battles and the emotional aftermath of rebuilding her life.Speaking to India Today, Celina recalled returning to India at a time when she had no place to call home. She said she had to depend on a few trusted friends while fighting to regain access to her own house.“When I came back to India, I didn’t have my own house. I stayed in a hotel for 10 days in a hotel owned by a friend whom I asked to give me a discount. I stayed till I could go to court and get an injunction to enter my own house. With no parents and my brother not there, I found comfort in 1-2 friends remaining.”The actor shared that several people extended their support during that difficult phase, including a director, a producer and some of her late father’s colleagues. However, she said it was Preity Zinta who stood by her when she needed someone the most.“Above all, Preity Zinta. That woman stood like a rock. She is the only one who understood how broken I was. Thanks to her, I went to Maa Baglamukhi temple in Dharamsala and Ujjain. When I went to Ujjain, I realised returning to my Sanatana dharma and my roots is my true calling,” she added.Celina also reflected on the series of personal losses that have deeply impacted her life. She spoke about losing both her parents, the heartbreaking death of one of her twin sons, and the pain of seeing her brother in prison. Looking back at everything she has endured, the actor said she often feels as though she has been “living in a script that I did not sign up for.”Holding back tears during the conversation, Celina admitted there are nights when she wakes up overwhelmed by the weight of her experiences and wonders how much more she can endure. Yet, she said she somehow gathers the strength to move forward, accepting what is beyond her control and facing each new day with resilience.Meanwhile, Celina remains embroiled in a legal dispute with her estranged husband, Peter Haag. According to Mumbai-based law firm Semwal & Co., Peter and his father, DI Wolfgang J Haag, have each served separate legal notices to the actor, alleging that she made defamatory statements in interviews and on social media amid their ongoing divorce and child custody proceedings.The notices deny allegations of abuse, harassment and intimidation levelled by Celina and also object to her repeated public references to their three children. They reportedly seek the removal of the alleged defamatory content, a public apology and have warned of possible civil and criminal proceedings if their demands are not met.Earlier, the Mumbai Police reportedly registered an FIR against Peter based on Celina’s complaint. The actor has also initiated proceedings under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, and has reportedly sought maintenance and compensation. She has further alleged that she has been denied access to their children despite a joint custody arrangement.Celina and Peter tied the knot in 2010. The couple has three children after losing one of their twin sons to a heart condition in 2017. Their divorce and child custody case is currently being heard in Austria.On the professional front, Celina is preparing for her return to Hindi cinema with *Sister Nivedita*, directed by Ram Kamal Mukherjee. Speaking about the film, she told HT City, “Working with a visionary filmmaker like Ram is unlike any other acting experience for me. With directors of his calibre, you don’t merely perform a character, you surrender yourself to becoming the soul of that era.”
