Photographs: Reuters/Hannibal Hanschke
It wasn't just Tom Cruise who was shocked when Katie Holmes, his wife of five and a half years, filed for divorce last Thursday while the actor was away in Iceland, shooting for his new film Oblivion.
Everything seemed perfect on the outside even though the couple had not been spotted together for a while.
According to reports, Holmes doesn't want the estranged couple's six-year-old daughter Suri to be brought up following Scientology, a religion Cruise is a staunch follower of.
This is touted to become the bone of contention as the couple braces themselves for a tough custody battle ahead.
We look at other Hollywood break-ups that ended rather acrimoniously.
Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries
Image: Kris Humphries and Kim KardashianPhotographs: Reuters/Allison Joyce/Danny Moloshok
Reality TV star and socialite Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from NBA star husband Kris Humphries after only 72 days of marriage.
While the former couple have moved on to dating other people, their impending divorce drama is only heating up, with Humphries alleging that the wedding that cost over $10 million, was a paid publicity stunt.
Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva
Image: Oksana Grigorieva and Mel GibsonPhotographs: Reuters/Juan Medina
Much after the very public backlash that followed Mel Gibson's anti-semitic and homophobic remarks, the actor/filmmaker ran into relationship drama after his split with Russian pianist Oksana Grigorieva.
The couple got together in 2009 and split in 2010. Oksana Grigorieva later filed for a restraining order against the actor, claiming that she had been a victim of domestic abuse.
Gibson reacted by filing a restraining order against her.
Parminder Nagra and James Stenson
Image: Parminder NagraPhotographs: Reuters/Robert Galbraith
Indo-British actress Parminder Nagra, who rose to fame with her role in Bend It Like Beckham, recently filed for divorce from photographer husband James Stenson.
Stenson has alleged that Nagra is hiding her wealth to avoid paying him alimony.
Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry
Image: Gabriel Aubry and Halle BerryPhotographs: Reuters/Danny Moloshok
Monster Ball actress Halle Berry is currently locked in a bitter custody battle of her daughter Nahla with former partner Gabriel Aubry.
The pair divorced in 2010 but are still fighting for custody as Berry wishes to take her daughter to France with her and her new beau Oliver Martinez.
A family court judge recently ordered Berry to pay a staggering $20,000 a month in child support to Aubry.
Madonna and Guy Ritchie
Image: Guy Ritchie and MadonnaPhotographs: Reuters/Eric Gaillard/Files
Madonna divorced filmmaker Guy Ritchie in 2008 after an eight-year marriage.
The former couple have since taken quite a few potshots at each other, Madonna in her concerts and Ritchie in the press.
Courtney Cox and David Arquette
Image: Courtney Cox and David ArquettePhotographs: Reuters/Jim Ruymen
Friends star Courtney Cox met David Arquette when he did a guest appearance on the hit show.
Sparks flew and the couple got hitched in 1999. However, this wasn't meant to be a fairytale either. The couple announced separation in 2010 and Arquette recently filed for divorce.
Cox had publicly alleged that her husband was a sex maniac.
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills
Image: Paul McCartney and Heather MillsPhotographs: Reuters/Darren Staples
One of the most bitter divorce sagas, Paul McCartney had to kiss his millions goodbye when he divorced his second wife, former model and landmines campaigner Heather Mills in 2008.
Mills was eventually awarded a lump sum of 16.5 million pounds with assets worth 7.8 million pounds after a very public hearing that went on for six days.
Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards
Image: Denise Richards and Charlie SheenPhotographs: Reuters/Robert Galbraith
This one's as dramatic as it can get.
Former Two And A Half Men actor Charlie Sheen married Denise Richards in 2002. Richards filed for divorce in 2005, accusing Sheen of alcohol and drugs abuse and threats of violence.
What ensued was a bitter custody battle for their two kids.
Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger
Image: Kim Basinger and Alec BaldwinPhotographs: Reuters
One of the ugliest divorces of all time, 30 Rock actor Alec Baldwin wed actress Kim Basinger in 1993.
The couple separated in 2000 and the following two years were spent in chalking out a divorce agreement and a bitter custody battle of their daughter Ireland.
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