Elizabeth Hurley has experienced several high-profile romances, but only one of those relationships resulted in marriage. Her ex-husband is Arun Nayar, an Indian businessman and technology entrepreneur who became a familiar figure in the British actress and model’s life during the 2000s.
Hurley and Nayar married in 2007 after several years together. Their relationship eventually ended in divorce in 2011, but the story did not stop there. Rather unusually, the former couple went on to maintain a close friendship, with Nayar continuing to have a meaningful place in Hurley’s family life.
Who Is Arun Nayar?
Arun Nayar is an international businessman and technology entrepreneur.
He is associated with Mumbai-based IT company Direction Software Solutions, where he has served in senior leadership roles. His professional career developed largely away from the entertainment industry, although his marriage to Hurley brought considerable international attention.
Before meeting Hurley, Nayar was already established in business. Their relationship subsequently placed him regularly in British and international celebrity coverage.
How They Met
Hurley and Nayar began dating in the early 2000s, reportedly becoming a couple in late 2002.
Their relationship lasted several years before they decided to marry. During that period, the pair frequently appeared together at public events, premieres and social occasions.
For Hurley, the relationship followed her much-publicized 13-year romance with actor Hugh Grant, making her eventual marriage to Nayar another major chapter in her personal life.
The 2007 Wedding
Hurley and Nayar’s wedding in March 2007 was anything but a simple ceremony.
The couple celebrated their marriage with two distinct events on opposite sides of the world.
Their first ceremony was a civil wedding at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire, England. The historic location provided a grand setting for the beginning of their wedding celebrations.
They then traveled to India for a lavish Hindu wedding in Jodhpur.
The Indian Celebration
The Indian portion of the wedding festivities lasted several days and incorporated traditional Hindu customs.
The celebrations took place in and around the Umaid Bhawan Palace, one of India’s most recognizable royal-era properties.
Hurley wore traditional Indian bridal clothing for the ceremony, while guests included several well-known figures from the couple’s social circles.
One particularly memorable detail was Elton John’s involvement. The singer, a longtime friend of Hurley, reportedly gave the bride away during the wedding celebrations.
The event attracted substantial media coverage and became one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings of 2007.
Their Separation
The marriage lasted less than four years.
In December 2010, Hurley publicly announced that she and Nayar had separated. The announcement came after reports and photographs linking Hurley to Australian cricket star Shane Warne.
The situation quickly became a major entertainment story, particularly because Hurley and Warne were subsequently seen together publicly.
Hurley later moved forward with the legal end of her marriage.
The Divorce
Hurley filed for divorce in April 2011.
The proceedings took place in London, and the marriage was officially dissolved on June 15, 2011.
The divorce brought an end to their legal relationship, but it did not result in a permanent breakdown between Hurley and Nayar.
In fact, their post-divorce relationship would become one of the more unusual aspects of their story.
An Unusual Friendship
Rather than becoming bitter former spouses, Hurley and Nayar have reportedly remained close friends.
Their relationship has continued well beyond the divorce, with Nayar remaining connected to Hurley’s family and appearing alongside her at important occasions.
That friendship has endured for more than a decade, despite both moving on romantically.
Nayar and Damian
Perhaps the strongest sign of their continuing bond is Nayar’s relationship with Hurley’s son, Damian.
Damian’s biological father was the late American businessman Steve Bing, but Nayar played an important father-figure role during Damian’s childhood.
Damian has publicly referred to Nayar affectionately as “dad” and has continued to acknowledge him on occasions such as Father’s Day.
That connection means Nayar’s relationship with Hurley extends beyond their former marriage.
Family Gatherings
The former couple have also continued to cross paths at family and social occasions.
Nayar has reportedly supported Damian at public events, including appearances connected with the younger Hurley’s work in film.
Hurley and Nayar have also been photographed together at celebrations, demonstrating that their divorce did not completely separate their lives.
Their ability to maintain such a close relationship after marriage and divorce is unusual, particularly given the intense media attention surrounding their original split.
Business Connections
Their connection has also extended into professional territory.
Hurley has maintained links with India through her fashion and beachwear business, and reports have noted connections with Nayar’s family and Mumbai-based production.
That means the former spouses have had both personal and professional reasons to remain in one another’s wider circles.
Where They Stand Today
As of 2026, Arun Nayar remains Elizabeth Hurley’s ex-husband, not her current partner.
Hurley has since entered a relationship with country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, while Nayar has continued his life away from the entertainment spotlight.
Despite their divorce, there appears to be little evidence of lasting hostility between Hurley and Nayar. Instead, their relationship evolved into a friendship that includes their shared history and Nayar’s continuing bond with Damian.
Arun Nayar is the only man Elizabeth Hurley has legally married.
The couple began dating around 2002 and married in March 2007, celebrating with both a civil ceremony in England and a traditional Hindu wedding in India. Their marriage ended after Hurley announced their separation in December 2010, with their divorce finalized in June 2011.
What makes their story particularly distinctive is what happened afterward. Rather than disappearing from one another’s lives, Hurley and Nayar remained close, with Nayar continuing to act as an important father figure to Damian.
Their marriage may have ended more than a decade ago, but their friendship and family connection have endured—making Arun Nayar a lasting part of Elizabeth Hurley’s personal story.
