Not ‘Guru’! Abhishek Bachchan reveals his love for Aishwarya Rai sparked during THIS film shoot

For years, one of Bollywood’s most widely believed love stories has been that Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s romance sparked during the making of Guru. But in an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Abhishek has set the record straight and the real timeline is more surprising than fans assumed.

The actor revealed that while Guru played a meaningful role in strengthening their bond, the emotional connection between him and Aishwarya actually began much earlier, long before the film became part of their shared legacy.

Abhishek first met Aishwarya Rai in 2000 on the sets of Dhai Akshar Prem Ke. At that time, there was no romantic angle, only professional interaction and a friendly equation.

Over the next few years, they stayed in touch within the industry but remained just friends. 

Interestingly, the real shift came much later during the making of J P Dutta’s Umrao Jaan (2006). It was during this phase that their bond began evolving from friendship into deeper emotional comfort.

The demanding shoot schedules, long hours, and on-set dynamics reportedly brought them closer in ways neither of them had experienced earlier. Over time, this phase marked the beginning of their romantic connection.

Following this, Mani Ratnam’s Guru (2007) became the most defining phase of their relationship. Abhishek has often acknowledged the director’s influence, describing Mani Ratnam as a deeply respected figure and a “godfather-like” presence in both their lives. During the filming of Guru, their bond strengthened.

It was also during this period that Abhishek proposed to Aishwarya at the Guru premiere in New York, turning their relationship into a lifelong commitment. The proposal was followed by a roka ceremony with both families and eventually their wedding in April 2007.

Reflecting on nearly 19 years of marriage, Abhishek described Aishwarya not only as his wife and the mother of their daughter Aaradhya, but also as his “soulmate.”

“Today, Ash is not just the mother of my daughter - and full credit to her for bringing up Aaradhya with the right values - but also my soulmate,” he shared.