By: Lifestyle DeskNew Delhi | September 26, 2025 05:25 PM IST 4 min readIndrani Mukerjea on her relationship with former husband Peter (Source: Google via Express Archives)In a recent interview, former media executive Indrani Mukerjea — accused in the high-profile murder case of her daughter Sheena Bora — opened up about the emotional and personal toll her legal battle has taken on her relationships. While reflecting on her past marriages and family dynamics, Indrani shared strikingly honest insights about abandonment and the lack of emotional support she experienced during her most vulnerable moments. She told Hindi Rush, “You know I’m the only child of my parents. So, my own parents… they had a very formal relationship, which is what I felt, because I have been through two marriages myself. When I had my relationship with Sanjeev, who was my first husband, I would say I had a very passionate relationship with him. And then I got married, and then obviously there was Vidhie… but it didn’t work out for different reasons. Even when I parted from Sanjeev, it had got nothing to do with love. It was not that I loved him less, or he loved me less. But, I realised that we would both be better people if we lived separately.”She continued, “I was already in my break up with Sanjeev when I met Peter. With Peter, it was never love at first sight or my heart didn’t kind of start… you know I didn’t get butterflies in my stomach when I met him. Over a period of time, as we started… four meetings we didn’t even date, we decided to get married. He proposed, and I said yes, and that was it. I was only 29 when I met him, he was 47. So, it was a huge age gap.”I learnt a lot. But I also realised that the day I was in trouble, not just Peter, his entire family abandoned me, she said, referring to the aftermath of the Sheena Bora case. “That was a realisation for me that he always just loved himself.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hindirush (@hindirush) How do early observations of parental dynamics influence a person’s own romantic relationship patterns and expectations later in life?Neha Parashar, a clinical psychologist at Mindtalk, tells indianexpress.com, “Early experiences with parental relationships shape what we come to believe is “normal” in adult partnerships. A formal or emotionally distant parental dynamic might lead a child to either replicate that pattern in their own relationships or seek out the opposite, perhaps overly intense or emotionally charged bonds, in response to what felt lacking.”These early models can influence expectations around affection, conflict resolution, and emotional vulnerability, she adds. “Some people may gravitate toward familiar dynamics, even if they’re not fulfilling, while others may struggle to navigate intimacy if they haven’t witnessed emotionally healthy connections. However, with self-awareness and support, people can unlearn inherited patterns and build more conscious, emotionally attuned relationships.”How do different types of attachment or relationship beginnings affect long-term emotional resilience and support systems?Indrani described her relationship with Sanjeev as “very passionate” and said her bond with Peter “was never love at first sight.” Parashar notes, “Passionate beginnings often come with strong highs, but can also bring volatility. More measured relationships may offer steadier emotional grounding, though they might lack the intensity some people associate with love.”Attachment styles formed early in life also play a role, she adds, those with secure attachments may be better able to maintain balanced partnerships regardless of how they began. “Ultimately, long-term emotional resilience in a relationship depends less on how it starts and more on how both partners communicate, respond to stress, and evolve together.” For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd