Journalism of Courage
Bollywood's couple Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan celebrate nine years of marriage on April 20. The couple, blessed with a daughter, Aaradhya seem to have a long-lasting romance that is clearly evident everytime they are snapped in public. While Aishwarya is busy with Sarbjit, Abhishek is shooting for his next multi-starrer Housefull 3.
Ahead: A look at the couple's journey together.
Aishwarya and Abhishek, who first met on the sets of Dhai Akshar Prem Ke, tied the knot on April 20, 2007 at a private ceremony at Bachchan's Juhu residence, Prateeksha. Wedding was held as per the north Indian, Bengali and Tulu traditions. The who's who of Bollywood was at the wedding ceremony.
While shooting for their first film together Abhishek was engaged to Karisma Kapoor and Ash was dating Salman Khan. (Express archive photo)
Rumours about them being a couple started during the shooting of Umrao Jaan but the two remained tight-lipped even after the release of the film.
At an award ceremony, Abhishek attributed his success to wife Aishwarya and said: “I really owe this to Aishwarya and the love and support she has given me. She makes me the person that I am."(Express archive photo)
In June 2011 Abhishek's father and megastar Amitabh Bachchan took to Twitter to announce that his bahu Aishwarya Rai was pregnant. (Express archive photo)
Aishwarya Rai gave birth to a baby girl on November 16, 2011, who was named Aaradhya Bachchan in March 2012. Earlier she was addressed as Beti B by the media. Grandfather Big B later confirmed to a fan's message on Twitter that his granddaughter has been named Aaradhya.
And ever since the birth of Aaradhya, media's focus has shifted to the little one.
Ash has always been a hands on mother and is never seen with a nanny to take care of Aaradhya. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)
Aishwarya Rai is also very popular for her humanitarian work. In September 2012, she was appointed as the new international Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS.
Along with other members of the Bachchan family, Aishwarya laid the foundation of a special school for underprivileged girls in Daulatpur village in Uttar Pradesh in 2008.
Aishwarya Rai, who is truly a global icon, accepted the second-highest Order Of France, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, in 2012. The award was presented to her on her birthday in November 2011 and as per her wish she was accompanied by her family including Aaradhya.
Before Aishwarya and Abhishek started dating they did an item number Kajrare in Bunty Aur Babli along with Big B (2005).
In 2006 J P Dutta cast Abhishek and Ash in the remake of Umrao Jaan. The same year the two were seen in Dhoom 2. Ash in skimpy clothes and Sunehri look while Abhishek as the tough cop -- too bad they weren’t paired together.
The couple's first film together post marriage was Sarkar Raj.
In 2010, Mani Ratnam again got the couple together in Ravan.
Aishwarya will soon be seen making a come back in Bollywood with Mani Ratnam's film while Abhishek will be seen in Farah Khan's Happy New Year with Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. Here’s wishing Abhishek and Aishwarya a very happy wedding anniversary. (Express archive photo)
