A journey that started as co-stars and thereafter translated into soulmates and parents – real-life Bollywood love stories will always be a favourite. Two of the biggest names in the industry, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan have been co-workers, friends and partners for almost two decades now. As they continue to turn heads wherever they go, here’s a look at their love story.
Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan’s love story is an enchanting tale of a journey that has withstood the test of time. From the early days of their on-screen pairing to the grand and hush-hush wedding and embracing parenthood, their relationship has always been a fan favourite. Their coming together in a day and age before social media had always led them to be under the media glare at all times but they have navigated that and other highs and lows with the grace of the Bollywood royalties that they are. Here’s a look at the timeline of their love story and what went behind the scenes.
Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan’s love story
The first encounter
It is no news that the duo have appeared in several movies together. if you take a trip down memory lane, you might remember that they had featured in a film called Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke way back in 2000. During the first photoshoot of the film, the couple had met for the first time, and they instantly became friends. Recalling their first meeting in an interview much later, Abhishek had said, “It was our first film together, and I expected a diva. Instead, she was disarmingly wonderful.” This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship.
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The film was not a big success, but Abhishek and Aishwarya continued being friends even after the movie. They collaborated for a second time in the year 2003 for the movie Kuch Naa Kaho. That movie further deepened their friendship, but there were still no romantic sparks between them.
The first signs of romance
By now, their beautiful chemistry had not gone unnoticed by fans and the media. It was during the shoot of their 2006 epic drama Umrao Jaan that Abhishek had first started to develop feelings for her. Around the same time, they were also shooting for Dhoom 2, when the two started realised their feelings for each other and started getting closer.
The proposal (Awwww)
For Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, the next step was to get married. But what is a celebrity wedding without a proposal? This couple had theirs too, and in the most dreamy way possible. In a podcast, Abhishek had revealed, “I was filming in New York for a movie, and I used to stand on my balcony of my hotel room and wish that one day wouldn’t it be nice if I was together with [Aishwarya], married? So I took her to the very same balcony, and I asked her to marry me.”
The grand wedding
One of the biggest Bollywood weddings of the time, it was not just a union of two people in love, it was also the coming together of two Bollywood superstars. The wedding festivities began with the engagement on 14 January, 2007, and they tied the knot on 20 April 2007. The wedding was done following both North Indian and Aishwarya’s traditional Tulu customs. It was as grand as you can imagine it to be. The secrecy and avoiding the media added to the grandeur of the wedding.
Embracing parenthood
After four years of marital bliss, the couple welcomed their daughter Aaradhya on 16 November 2011. Even though Aishwarya took a break from acting to raise her daughter, she continued to conquer the world, just as she does today.
Hero Image: Courtesy Aishwarya Rai Bachchan/Instagram; Featured Images: Courtesy Abhishek Bachchan/Instagram
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– How did Aishwarya Rai fall in love with Abhishek?
Aishwarya Rai fell in love with Abhishek Bachchan during the shooting of Umrao Jaan and Dhoom 2.
– How is Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai related?
Amitabh Bachchan is Aishwarya Rai’s father-in-law.
Sreetama Basu
Digital Writer - Entertainment, Food & Drinks
A journalism student who studied the subject only to meet SRK in person, she settled for the best way to meet him. Covering Entertainment throughout her career, and now Food, Health and Lifestyle as well, Sreetama is also a self-proclaimed plant mom. In love with all things slow and quiet, she can often be found hunting for quiet corners with a glass of wine in hand. Other loves include little, inconsequential things, like neatly tucked-in bedsheets and big, significant things, like whole cheesecakes. She dreams of being a baker and writing about food someday.
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