Acclaimed danseuse Methil Devika announced her divorce from her husband and leading Malayalam actor-politician Mukesh on Tuesday, July 27. Speaking to media persons at Palakkad, she said that she has served the Kollam MLA her notice for divorce. For a while now, there have been rumours of divorce between the popular star couple, including allegations against Mukesh alleging domestic violence. She said, "If my household problem concerns Kerala, I would have spoken about it. The reason for divorce is personal and I do not want to delve into it." Addressing the allegations of domestic violence, Devika stated that it is not mentioned in the list of her grievances or as a reason for their divorce. However, in an interview to Asianet, she stated, "There are various forms of domestic violence. I would not be able to answer anything specific; that's my personal issue." 

Methil Devika, a research supervisor at the state's premier institute of traditional arts, Kerala Kalamandalam, informed that she had been waiting for the recently-held Kerala Assembly elections to come to an end in order to proceed forward with the divorce. Mukesh, representing the Kollam constituency, won the elections as the CPI(M)’s candidate. Devika further said, "Although talks have been going on since then, I served the legal notice to make it formal and convey that I am serious about it." She revealed that they had ideological differences in their relationship, including various differences of opinion. 

Devika said that the divorce with Mukesh was mutual and under amicable terms, while adding that she is not going to do any blame game. "We both are mature and we will show that maturity in this too. I did not leak this news (about the divorce), it was accidentally leaked," she said, while making a request to the media and the public to cooperate in the proceedings to be peaceful. She also stated that the couple's decision to divorce had nothing to do with Mukesh's public life or image. Mukesh and Devika tied the knot on October 24, 2013 and had been working at the Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi then. The veteran Malayalam actor, who has been seen in several blockbusters over his four-decade old career, was previously married to actress Saritha, which ended in divorce in 2011. 

Watch below Devika addressing the press: