Divorce is undoubtedly a painful process and saying goodbye to someone you had plans to spend your entire life with is surely not easy. In the last few years, Kollywood has seen a number of high-profile celebrity divorces. Many people choose to withdraw from the spotlight following their breakup, while others choose to benefit from the experience and reinvent themselves.

We've compiled a list of celebs who treated divorce as a catapult for personal development and self-discovery:

Manju Warrier

Manju Warrier is undeniably Malayalam's Female Superstar, and her debut Tamil film, 'Asuran,' co-starring Dhanush, cemented her place in Kollywood. Manju began acting in her teens in the Malayalam film 'Sakshyam.' Within a short span of four years, the actress had already appeared in 20 films. She was honored with several awards and accolades for her work in Malayalam cinema.

Manju married actor Dileep and had a daughter, Meenakshi, during the height of her career. However, in 2014, the couple filed for divorce, and Manju made a comeback to the film industry with the award-winning film 'How Old Are You?'

Manju Warrier is living proof that divorce, no matter how devastating, does not mean you can't pursue your dreams or have a successful career. Her second inning made her an even bigger star than before! She achieved immense fame and recognition in Malayalam and Tamil cinema as a result of her decision to pursue substantial roles and compelling scripts.

Samantha

Samantha's divorce from her ex-hubby Naga Chaitanya, is relatively new. The couple announced their legal separation after four years of marriage in 2021. The actress embarked on a spiritual pilgrimage with her friends soon after the divorce went public.

What seemed to be one of the most challenging periods of her life turned out to be the best for her career, as she struck project after another that just kept elevating her fame and prowess as an actress. From the awards and recognition for her role in the Family Man 2 web series to her viral song 'Oo Antava,' Samantha is unstoppable.

Even as she gets busier with new projects, the actress often takes a break from shoots and goes on dreamy vacations with her friends. Samantha is the definition of 'girl power,' and we have nothing but simply best wishes for the superstar.

Arvind Swamy

Arvind Swamy was the 1990s' heartthrob! After acting in a few iconic films like 'Thalapathi,' 'Roja,' and 'Minsara Kanavu' directed by the renowned Mani Ratnam, Arvind began focusing on business.

In 1994, he married Gayathri Ramamurthy, and they had two children. However, the couple has been living apart since 2003 and filed for divorce in 2010. He was also engaged in an unfortunate accident in 2005, which left him partially paralyzed and required years of treatment.

Arvind returned to the cinema at Mani Ratnam's request after a rough decade in the 2000s. He shed 15 pounds for the role in 'Kadal.' His portrayal of 'Siddharth Abhimanyu' in Thani Oruvan made him a household name. Since then, he's been acting and recently received praise for his role in 'Thalaivii,' co-starring Kangana Ranaut (directed by AL Vijay).

It's inspiring to see that despite the challenges that life threw at him at every turn, Arvind never lost faith in himself and continued to seek what made him happy. He remarried Aparna Mukerjee in 2012.

Vishnu Vishal

Vishnu Vishal is a Kollywood hero who made his mark after playing the lead in the psychological thriller 'Ratchasan.' While his acting career was soaring high, his personal life took a hit.

Vishnu Vishal was married to his college sweetheart, fashion designer Rajini Natraj. However, after four years of courtship and seven years of marriage, they divorced in 2018.

While the divorce had a tremendous impact on him, he also suffered a significant injury while filming that kept him in bed for two and a half months, causing him to miss out on several film opportunities with well-known directors and production companies. In the process, the actor gained 11 kg.

After six months of training and practising healthy lifestyle habits, the actor has recovered and is now looking fit and healthy. He no longer drinks and practises yoga. He has also severed ties with negative and judgmental people in his life, both offline and online. His support system consists of his family and a few close friends.

In 2021, Vishnu married his fiancée, badminton player Jwala Gutta. Vishnu has demonstrated that, despite a setback following his divorce, he was able to bounce back by reinventing himself and even finding a new partner.
Source: India Today, Times of India, Indiaglitz & Cinema Express
Photo Credit: The Indian Express, Gulte, WikiMyLinks, Mirchi9, Indiaglitz & Bollywood Life