Celebrity chef’s wife opens up about the explosive REAL truth behind the gossip surrounding her marriage – and the devastating phone call that wrecked her life

EXCLUSIVE

The heartbroken wife of celebrity chef Opel Khan has dramatically backtracked on comments about the state of her marriage and admitted the couple are divorcing.

Khan – who ran a string of high-end dinner parties in Sydney until suddenly closing his empire late last year – insisted this weekend that his marriage was fine.

His wife Julie even appeared in a FaceTime interview with Daily Mail Australia to deny the ‘gossip’ that the couple had split and not spoken in a year.

But on Monday, Mrs Khan dramatically admitted: ‘We are not together and are divorcing.’

Last week, Khan vehemently denied that the couple had split “some time ago” and claimed that a mystery woman had contacted his wife claiming to be his secret lover.

“A woman contacted my wife claiming to be my mistress,” he told Daily Mail Australia, angrily denying the allegations.

‘I was having dinner with five or six women and a photo was sent to my wife insinuating things.

Chef, author and television personality Opel Khan (pictured) closed his restaurants, claiming rising food costs made it impossible to run the businesses profitably

‘Now people are making up all kinds of rumors that a baby is on the way. None of this is true.’

He added: “People in the Bengali community are against me.”

But on Monday, Ms Khan insisted on setting the record straight about her relationship with the celebrity chef.

And she admitted that a mysterious informant told her details about the allegations against her estranged husband.

“I was contacted by someone I didn’t know, but it wasn’t a woman,” she told Daily Mail Australia on Monday. “As far as I know, no woman has contacted me.”

Despite joining her estranged husband for a video call with Daily Mail Australia to say they were still together, she insists they have split for good.

“We’re not together,” she said.

The split follows Khan’s massive restaurant closure of French-themed Metisse and pasta restaurant Acqua E Farina in Potts Point, as well as his Bistronomie restaurant in Surry Hills.

He confirmed the closures last year, stressing that rising wages and rising food costs mean “you just can’t make money anymore” in Sydney’s hospitality industry.

Daily Mail Australia revealed a series of debt collectors were trying to track him down at previous addresses listed in company files.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has also taken legal action against Khan and his company over allegations of wage theft involving some of his restaurant staff.

The chef would also not have been entitled to personal leave, and would not have been entitled to notice pay and annual leave when his job was axed.

The estranged couple married 28 years ago

Opel Khan claims tough trading conditions have forced Opel Khan to close a string of locations, including its latest affordable eatery Bistronomie

A drinks regulator also missed out on his right to paid annual leave, the ombudsman claimed, and the company failed to calculate and pay back workers.

Mr Khan strongly denied the claims, saying he had paid back both employees and provided receipts for bank transfers. The case is currently still in court.

Daily Mail Australia can now reveal he is also being pursued over other alleged outstanding debts.

A current tenant of a former rental property where Khan and his family once lived has revealed how alleged unpaid bills have filled his mailbox since he moved in.

He said debt collectors have been constantly knocking at his door for the past 10 months looking for Khan after he moved into the Beecroft house in Sydney’s north.

“A lot of different people and businesses have been here looking for him, about six since February,” the tenant said.

“A lot of different people from different companies want to know where he is.”