Padma Lakshmi is divorcing her hubby of three years, The Satanic Verses author, Salman Rushdie. The much-older Rushdie, who was recently knighted, has said via his rep that he has “agreed to divorce his wife, Padma Lakshmi, because of her desire to end the marriage.”  No reason has been given although there is speculation that Padma, a former model who can currently be seen as the host of Bravo’s Top Chef 3, was spotted out and about with an unnamed but ‘married chef’ and the duo seemed very interested in each other.

Rushdie is still very much in love with his fourth wife, whom he met over eight years ago. However, trouble has been brewing in the union for quite some time. Their mutual friend, designer Diane von Furstenberg was overheard saying several months prior that “I can’t believe she’s leaving him.” Padma’s rep announced that “Lakshmi regrets that their mutual efforts failed to make the marriage work,” adding that the couple seeks privacy during this ‘difficult time.’