The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Delhi High Court's decision to grant a divorce to celebrity chef Kunal Kapur.

A Bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti sought Kapur's response after his wife appealed the High Court's verdict.

The Supreme Court has referred the case to the Supreme Court Mediation Centre to explore an out-of-court settlement.

In April, the Delhi High Court had granted Kapur a divorce on the grounds of cruelty by his wife, observing her conduct lacked dignity and empathy. The court found that her behavior fell under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, and the family court had erred in not granting the divorce earlier. It examined WhatsApp messages showing Kapur was restricted from meeting or speaking with his son.

Kapur's wife argued that the High Court's judgment, delivered six months after being reserved, violated Supreme Court directions. She also noted that the couple had lived together and vacationed post the alleged cruelty.

Kapur acknowledged his wife's support in his career success, despite his allegations of her threatening behavior, police calls, and public disturbances, including an incident at his MasterChef India shoot in 2016.

Kapur's wife denied the allegations, stating she compromised her career for the family and faced humiliation from her in-laws for not fitting their conservative expectations. Represented by Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora and others, she contended before the Supreme Court.