NEW DELHI - In her first in-depth interview since divorcing husband Arbaaz Khan, actress Malaika Arora has spoken candidly to mid-day about how the former couple are still a family unit and why personal equations between Arbaaz and her folks remain unchanged.

Malaika, 43, and Arbaaz, 50, announced last year they were separating after 18 years married and were granted a divorce this year in May. They are often spotted together at social events, go on holiday with each other's families, and were photographed with 15-year-old son Arhaan at Justin Bieber's concert in Mumbai a day before the divorce was finalized. Speaking to mid-day, Malaika Arora, who still uses Khan in her surname on Instagram, revealed how close she and Arbaaz still are.

"Arbaaz is a part of my family, the father of my child. Certain equations don't change overnight. The things that happened should remain between us. It's personal. We don't have to prove anything to anybody. Meeting (Arbaaz Khan) makes my son happy, and that makes me happy," she said.

The former couple have also managed to preserve the dynamic with other family members. "For Amrita, he's like a brother, and he is a son to my parents. What happened is between us," Malaika Arora added.

Breaking up was hard, no matter how amicable things might seem now. "Arbaaz and I have known each other all our lives. It was emotionally difficult, but we haven't really talked about it because we are private individuals. He is very important to me. No matter what happens or where life takes us, Arbaaz will always be integral to my life," she said adding that son Arhaan has coped well because he is 'focused and level-headed.' - Agencies