Mumbai: Known for hitting huge sixes in domestic cricket that won him a birth in Indian team for a while, Salil Ankola, after completing rehabilitation to treat alcoholism, has now tied knot with a doctor friend.
Ankola who also tried his luck in TV serials, hit the headlines in 2008 after he entered rehab for alcoholism and depression.The 45-year-old then fell off the wagon and was back to a rehabilitation centre in Pune in 2010.But Salil is finally smiling again as not only has he found love but solemnised it as well.
This is Salil's second marriage. He met Ria Banerjee,a doctor from Allahabad, on Facebook. Ria too was a divorcee and Salils first marriage to Parineeta ended in 2011.
According to a source close to Salil,"It was a bleak period for Salil and Ria has helped him come out of the dark phase.
Salil confirmed "Ria is a lovely woman.I met her sometime in 2011.We had a court marriage.I am happy once again.”
Salil and Ria,first met on the social networking site and soon the virtual conversations transformed into love.
Ria,who specialises in TB and HIV patients,says that both were keen to settle down together after their first meeting. Marriage was on my mind and his as well.I remember I had had gone to Pune for an interview and Salil was in rehab.We met and clicked instantly, said Ria.
The new couple has three children between them,Rias 10-year-old daughter from his first marriage and Salils daughter and son.
Salil played for Mumbai in the 90s and made his Test debut in the same Indo-Pak match as Sachin Tendulkar.
But his cricketing career never took off and he then tried his hand at acting but his turbulent personal life derailed his second career too.
But Salil is now hoping for a fresh start.Buzz is,he has signed a Mahesh Manjrekar film.
