Celina Jaitly says she has been denied access to her children despite a joint custody order; claims kids are being ‘brainwashed and intimidated’

Celina Jaitly revealed that she has been denied access to her children despite joint custody

Actor Celina Jaitly has been engaged in an intense divorce battle with her husband Peter Haag. She moved to Austria after marrying him in 2011, but returned to India in October last year, alleging that she endured years of marital abuse. Their three children, Winston, Viraj and Arthur, are currently in Austria with Haag, who reportedly sent her a divorce notice in 2025. In her latest social media post, Celina claimed that despite a joint custody order issued by an Austrian family court, she has allegedly been denied communication with, or access to, her children.

Taking to her X handle, she wrote, “I Lost My Children the Day I Chose to Leave Austria to Protect My Dignity, My Children & My Brother. For the thousands of men & women who have written to me about the abuse they have endured in their marriage. I want you to know that you are not alone! 11 Oct 2025 In the early hours of the morning, I left Austria with the assistance of neighbours to escape what I had experienced as systematic oppression & abuse. Thereafter, I was compelled to return to India with only a minimal sum of money in my bank account to navigate the rest of my life.”

The actor added, “In India, I had to approach the court simply to enter & access my own house, a property purchased by me in 2004, long before my marriage, which my husband is now seeking to claim as his own. In order to do all this, I also had to take a big loan. Despite joint custody & a subsisting order of the Austrian Family Court, I am presently DENIED ANY COMMUNICATION with my 3 children & I am heartbroken!”

Celina Jaitly also shared that she has repeatedly tried to resolve the separation amicably, while keeping the well-being of her children in mind. But, she was given unreasonable conditions. “There has been repeated interference with my children’s access to me, including exposure to selective media narratives, resulting in obstruction of regular parent child communication, as well as brainwashing & intimidation to compel them to say things against me, a mother who has done nothing but care for them since the day they were born, moving from one country to another to support the career of their father. In early Sept, I was served a divorce notice by my husband on the pretext of receiving a gift ordered for our 15th wedding anniversary at the local post office, to which I was driven by him.”

“THEREAFTER, I REPEATEDLY & LEGALLY SOUGHT AN AMICABLE SEPARATION IN GOOD FAITH, PRIORITIZING ONLY THE WELFARE OF THE CHILDREN. THESE EFFORTS WERE MET WITH DEMANDS RELATING TO MY PREMARITAL ASSETS & UNREASONABLE CONDITIONS INTENDED TO STRIP ME OF MY FREEDOM & DIGNITY EVEN AFTER DIVORCE. Overnight, I was required to justify my role as a mother, as a parent, despite being their mother & the primary caregiver to my children. My entire world was snatched from me in one moment,” she further wrote.

I Lost My Children the Day I Chose to Leave Austria to Protect My Dignity, My Children & My Brother

For the thousands of men & women who have written to me about the abuse they have endured in their marriage. I want you to know that you are not alone!

11 Oct 2025 In the early… pic.twitter.com/NIlbNI6gRB — Celina Jaitly (@CelinaJaitly) January 13, 2026

The 44-year-old continued, “When I asked for an amicable separation, I was told that my professional background & achievements were irrelevant & was advised to take up work as a cleaner or in a supermarket in the small village where we lived in Austria, simply to retain the joint custody of my children. I questioned why, when I can make a life for myself successfully in my own country on my own terms, I was being denied my children, my dignity to life & work, after being heartlessly discarded after taking my assets, after me having trying my best to make an abusive marriage work with my loyalty & dedication for 15 years.”

Calling out systematic oppression and marital abuse, Celina mentioned, “As matters stand today, I remain without access to my children, in circumstances shaped by jurisdictional constraints, financial coercion & systemic imbalance, simply because I chose to stand up & fight for my rights. In 2024 I was even denied access to a part of my own rental income, preventing me from travelling to Dubai to avail legal aid for my brother Maj Vikrant. Abuse within marriage can isolate you, silence you & make you feel invisible. This is what systematic oppression & abuse is designed to do WE WERE BURNING WHILE THEY CAME BLAMING US FOR THE SMELL OF ASHES.”

Celina Jaitly had filed a domestic violence case against her husband, Austrian hotelier Peter Haag last year. Both of them appeared before the Andheri court on December 12. In her petition, the actor sought custody of their three children and accused her estranged husband of financial misappropriation, and robbing of her financial independence and dignity.