I am appalled by the ghoulish interest being taken in Karisma Kapoor's marriage and its supposed breach. My colleagues from the paparazzi have been going crazy over the question of whether she's split with her husband or not.

When the couple doesn't wish to talk about its problem shouldn't we respect their wishes? Instead we have "close friends" of the two affected parties being thrust with responsibilities to speak on behalf of the affected couple.

But the knot is a knotty tangle. It cannot be resolved in the entertainment sections of papers and magazines because a marriage and an ensuing break-up are not meant for entertainment. To try to pry into lives which are already on the brink is tantamount to probing wounds that are too raw to be touched, let alone healed. Why add to the chaos when we cannot breach the dam?

Karisma's marriage is no one's business. Whether it's in trouble or not shouldn't concern any medium, print or electronic. Sad to say we journalists take a ghoulish delight in invading stars' lives. And Karisma is the latest victim of the alarming paparazzi culture that has hit Indian journalism.

Karisma isn't a friend. But we've spoken cordially and warmly over a period time. Her sister and mother invited me to her grand wedding. I could not attend. But I knew how lavish it was and how excited Karisma, her mom and sister were about the event. Later Kareena had said, "Almost everyone came. I felt so proud to see my sister on the mandap. It was a big moment for all of us."

We were in touch off and on. And during one of our sporadic chats Karisma excitedly told me about the new home that was she doing up for herself and her husband, and how every single item in the house was being selected by her personally.

Have her dreams of a home been shattered by the harsh reality of marital stress? I don't know. And I don't want to ask Karisma about it. I know her to be a very private person. And when I was bombarded with requests to find out about her marital problems I felt a surge of protectiveness towards her.

Surely being an actress doesn't take away your right to privacy?

Stories about Karisma's husband reached my ears long before their marriage. But as a close friend of the couple told me after these unsavoury stories of the break-up broke out, "It takes two to tango. Likewise it takes two to keep a marriage going. What we hear in Mumbai is one-half of the marital story."

A break-up isn't easy for a couple. Let's not make it more difficult by taking sides. Let's not behave as though the media knows the truth about Karisma's marriage. Until she chooses to tell us about it, we are in the dark and that's where we should remain.

As the weeks and months pass the break-up is bound to get uglier. There might even be a custody battle.

Why don't we give Karisma the right to fight her battle in peace? After all she has given us so much.

The whole film industry is abuzz with how one of the most talked about marriages in recent times is in trouble. Karisma Kapoor has been staying in Mumbai for the last two months.

Initially, everyone thought Karisma was back for the traditional pre-delivery visit to her maika. But when Lolo didn’t leave for Delhi after the mandatory forty days post the baby’s birth, it didn’t go unnoticed.

Hubby Sunjay Kapur’s continued absence was a signal. According to the grapevine, although Karisma has been friends with Sunjay and his family for years, it was only recently that she was introduced to Sunjay’s extravagant lifestyle.

According to a source, “Sunjay is a party animal. He’s out a lot and yes, he likes his drink.” There are also rumours about addictions and substance abuse that became the cause of tension between the couple.

We called Randhir Kapoor, Karisma’s father. “What rubbish is this!” bellowed the normally polite and placid Randhir, exploding in fury. “This is rubbish! This is utter nonsense!” he said, and disconnected the line.

A friend of the actress, who did not wish to be named, told us that Sunjay was not with Karisma when their daughter was born — he was in a bar, drinking with his friends.

And, because of his frequent trips abroad, Karisma was often left lonesome. As an actress, she was used to gruelling schedules from the time she was sixteen, and sitting idle destroyed her mentally.

However, a friend of the Kapurs from Delhi says that the marriage is not over, “Every marriage goes through hiccups. This is not a break-up. It’s more like a lover’s tiff. Both of them need to learn to adjust to each other. I think the biggest problem is that Karisma is not able to adjust to Delhi. She misses her family, the familiar faces and places. She misses her life in Mumbai. She wants to start acting again, and Sunjay is not too keen on that. But I am sure they will work it out.”

Apparently, Karisma is on the verge of signing a big film. But for now, the status quo stands; Karisma is in Mumbai and Sunjay out of the country. We spoke to someone from Sunjay’s family in Mumbai, who didn’t seem to think anything was wrong.

“These are mere speculations. Karisma has known Sunjay and our family for years. One of Sunjay’s sisters is her best friend. Karisma’s just had the baby and she will be returning to Delhi soon. In fact, Sunjay has a flat in Mumbai too. The baby’s nursery in Delhi is all done-up and ready. Karisma is right now at her mom’s house for the 40-day period. Sunjay is a devoted family man. He visits his daughter and wife every weekend in Mumbai. Right now he is abroad. The moment he comes back, he will come straight to Mumbai to meet them.”

What about reports about his addictions and the stories that he is violent and abusive? “Sunjay is a polo player and a sportsman. He can’t play if he has an addiction.”

Wasn’t Sunjay drinking in a bar when his baby was being born? There is shocked silence… then the family member replies, “Sunjay was with the entire family at Breach Candy Hospital when the baby was being born.” 

Despite repeated attempts to contact her, Karisma Kapoor remained unavailable for comment.