Princess Diana's Ex-Love Dismisses Biopic as 'Based on Presumptions'
The heart surgeon who had a two-year romance with Princess Diana prior to her tragic death slammed the biopic, "Diana," saying it's based on a "superficial idea" and was a "betrayal" of their relationship.
"I haven't seen the film and I haven't met anyone who has seen it, but I can tell you for sure that it's based on a superficial idea," Dr. Hasnat Khan told Britain's The Sun. "I have kept things very discreet, but now this film is trying to open things up again."
Khan, 54, is the Pakistani doctor whom Diana dated for two years, reportedly calling him "Mr. Wonderful." Their relationship ended in 1997 and Diana went on to date Dodi Al Fayed, with whom she died while riding in a car in Paris in August of that same year.
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The film depicts the relationship between Diana and Khan during the final two years of her life.
Khan squashed claims in the film that his family was not supportive of his relationship with the Princess of Wales.
"Both my parents, grandmother and all close relatives who met Diana liked her very much and my parents and grandmother never objected to our relationship," Khan said, according to The Sun. "This amounts to the film projecting a betrayal of our relationship and my relationship with my immediate family. … It's all based on presumptions."
The film, set to be released Nov. 1 in the United States, is based on the 2001 book, "Diana: Her Last Love," by author Kate Snell. Naomi Watts stars as Diana while Khan is portrayed by "Lost" actor Naveen Andrews in the film.
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Khan admitted that he and Diana were "inseparable" and after her death "things were difficult, very difficult."
"It's been difficult for me to get my head around Diana's death or talk about it," he said.
Khan said losing a loved one who was so iconic makes the loss even harder.
"We all have our own traumas and get on with it. But when it's there in your face year in, year out, it's hard," Khan said.
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The couple both shared a love of helping others, something to which they both devoted their lives. Khan said Diana would be proud of his Chain of Hope charity that provides lifesaving heart surgery to children in Ethiopia.
"Sometimes when I do a job like this, I do have these very strong feelings that Diana is still with me somehow," he said. "The past few weeks have been tough and I know Diana would be saying, stay focused and keep getting on with your life. Help these children. Be happy."