Kamahl’s sad personal announcement

Kamahl made the sad announcement in a new interview with New Idea, revealing that he and Sahodra split earlier this year – but that he’s “praying” for a reconciliation, and blames himself for the separation.“I think over time I took Sahodra’s graciousness for granted. In hindsight, I should have given her more hugs,” the 87-year-old Malaysian-born entertainer told New Idea.Kamahl currently lives alone at a country club on Sydney’s northern beaches after the couple, who wed in 1966, sold their longtime family home last year. Kamahl and Sahodra have two children together – son Rajan, 52, and daughter Rani, 50, who enjoyed a brief pop career in the late ’90s.He said that despite the split, he and Sahodra “remain close”. “Thankfully, things are convivial – we see one another regularly. She still cooks me her unbelievably delicious lamb shanks every fortnight,” Kamahl said.The couple have been regulars on Sydney red carpets for decades, appearing arm in arm at opening nights and other events.The personal news comes a month after Kamahl penned an open letter to former Hey, Hey It’s Saturday host Daryl Somers, reflecting on his treatment on the iconic Aussie show.Hey, Hey faced fresh scrutiny earlier this year when vintage clips from the show circulated on social media – many of them featuring Kamahl, who was mocked and belittled during his frequent appearances.One clip, from a 1984 episode, shocked many: An unsuspecting Kamahl was ambushed mid-song and hit in the face with a white powder puff.“You’re a real white man now Kamahl, you know that?” Somers’ off-camera sidekick John Blackman told him on-air. The stunt happened just a week before he was set to enjoy a huge career milestone, headlining New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall for the second time.As the uproar over the resurfaced clips raged in March, Somers publicly apologised to Kamahl, saying the show “never set out to offend anybody” and that “all members of the Hey Hey team do not condone racism in any form”.But in an open letter to Somers released exclusively to news.com.au in October, Kamahl revealed he still has “one unanswered question” for the TV host, asking Somers if another Australian artist would’ve received the same treatment on the show.