Dhanush and wife Aishwaryaa, Rajinikanth's eldest daughter, shocked fans and well-wishers by announcing their separation on Monday. After 18 years of togetherness, the duo decided to go separate ways as they want to 'take time to understand' themselves as individuals. Taking to social media, Dhanush and Aishwaryaa shared the news with fans and issued identical statements.

Posted by Dhanush on Twitter, the statement reads, "Today we stand at a place where our paths separate. Aishwaryaa and I have decided to part ways as a couple and take time to understand us as individuals for the better".

While the estranged couple's fans extended support to them, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma indirectly took a dig at Dhanush and Aishwaryaa in a Twitter rant about 'star divorces'. Taking an indirect jibe at the duo, RGV expressed his thoughts on divorces and claimed marriage is the evilest custom.

The Rangeela helmer wrote, "Star divorces are good trend setters to warn young people about the dangers of marriages". In another tweet, he said, "Nothing murders love faster than marriage ..The secret of happiness is to keep loving as long as it remains and then move on instead of getting into the jail called marriage". 

According to him, smart people love while "dumbos marry". He further added that "divorces should be celebrated with sangeet" and marriages "should happen quietly". 

(With inputs from agencies)