Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan recently celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary on April 20. The actress celebrated the occasion by clicking selfies with Abhishek and Aaradhya on social media. In a new interview, Abhishek looked back on their journey together, from their first meeting to falling in love, and even hinted at special plans to celebrate their 20th anniversary.In a conversation with Subhash K Jha for Deccan Chronicle, Abhishek recalled their initial meeting on the sets of Dhai Akshar Prem Ke, directed by Raj Kanwar. “It would be in the year 2000, on the sets of late Raj Kanwar’s film, Dhai Akshar Prem Ke,” he said, adding that their relationship at that time was strictly platonic. “There was no idea at the time what was going to happen. We got along very well. But did I doubt that she was my soul mate? No!”The two later worked together again in the film ‘Kuch Naa Kaho’, though their relationship remained unchanged.
It wasn’t until 2006, during the shooting of JP Dutta’s Umrao Jaan, that things started to change. Abhishek described this stage as the point where the “spark” finally appeared. Their relationship became stronger while working on Guru, directed by Mani Ratnam.During the New York premiere of Guru, Abhishek proposed to Aishwarya, on the same balcony where he had once imagined a future with her. Soon after, their families came together for a Roca ceremony, and in April 2007, they tied the knot in an intimate but widely watched wedding.
Looking back, Abhishek shared, “We got married a few months after the release of our film Guru. Mani Ratnam remains special to both of us and we consider him a dear friend and godfather. Today, Ash is not only my daughter’s mother and the full credit goes to her for raising Aaradhya with the right values but also my soulmate. Nineteen years of our marriage have been a dream. I have big plans for our twentieth anniversary, but I’m not telling you about them now.”
“When asked how they continue their marriage despite constant public scrutiny and rumours, he humorously added: “Every night, before you sleep, say ‘sorry’ to your wife three times without fail.”Interestingly, Abhishek suggested using the same ring as Guru’s, which he kept for sentimental reasons. Reflecting on that moment in a 2010 interview, Aishwarya said, “It’s authentic and real, like our relationship. There’s nothing predictable or boring in our lives. We take care of each other. The gesture was spontaneous and meaningful. God has been good to us. We can certainly buy those rock records, but do we need them?”