07 August,2026 04:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Akanksha Chamola and Gaurav Khanna (Picture via Instagram)
Akanksha Chamola is taking another step towards moving on from her marriage to television actor Gaurav Khanna. Amid their ongoing divorce proceedings, the actor has reportedly expressed her desire to remove 'Khanna' from her name and has also urged Instagram to change her username.
Akanksha and Gaurav have been in the spotlight since she announced their separation on Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa. The actor revealed that the couple had been living separately for around a year and had mutually decided to end their marriage. The announcement came as a surprise to fans, particularly because the two had continued to make public appearances together in the months before the revelation.
During her stint on the reality show, Akanksha opened up about the reasons behind the separation. She explained that she and Gaurav eventually developed different expectations about having children. According to Akanksha, she had never felt a strong maternal instinct and had eventually realised that motherhood was not something she wanted. Gaurav, on the other hand, wanted to become a father. She said she did not want to prevent him from fulfilling that desire, leading them to discuss ending their relationship.
Akanksha also clarified that their decision was not driven by hostility. She has maintained that they had discussed the matter for a long time before reaching the decision to part ways. The couple, who married in November 2016, have now been navigating the end of their relationship under intense public scrutiny.
Her latest move to change her social media identity appears to be another indication of the transition she is making in her personal life. Akanksha's Instagram username currently carries a reference to "Khanna", reflecting the surname she adopted after marriage. She is now seeking to have it changed as she prepares to move forward independently.
The development comes after several candid revelations from Akanksha on Lock Upp. She has spoken about her decision to remain child-free and the emotional pressure surrounding her separation. She also revealed that she does not intend to remarry and wants to focus on building a life on her own terms.
Gaurav, meanwhile, has largely maintained his privacy regarding the separation. The actor previously made a social media post following Akanksha's announcement but did not publicly address the details of their relationship at the time.
As the divorce proceedings move forward, Akanksha's reported decision to drop the 'Khanna' name signals her desire to establish a fresh identity beyond her marriage and begin the next chapter of her life independently.
