'Why wait nine months?': Aishwarya Rai on her heartbreak over Manisha Koirala’s shocking claims

The '90s Bollywood scene was no stranger to scandals, but one controversy involving Aishwarya Rai, Manisha Koirala, and Rajeev Mulchandani still stands out as one of the era’s most sensational love triangles. Accusations of secret love letters, heartbreak, and public denials turned this into a headline-grabbing drama that left even Aishwarya in tears.

Back in the day, Manisha Koirala was dating Rajeev Mulchandani, a popular model. But things took a shocking turn when Manisha claimed to have found love letters allegedly written by Rajeev to Aishwarya. The news sent ripples through Bollywood, with whispers of betrayal and heartbreak dominating gossip columns.

Aishwarya, however, was left stunned and heartbroken by the accusations. Recalling the incident, she said, "I cried like crazy. I was really hurt miserably by all that was happening around me."

At the time, Aishwarya had no idea she was about to be dragged into such a controversy. In fact, she had just watched Manisha’s film 'Bombay' and was planning to send her a bouquet to congratulate her on her brilliant performance. But everything changed when Rajeev called her on April 1st and asked if she had been reading the newspapers.

That’s when Aishwarya found out about the explosive allegations. She recalled, "He laughed and told me Manisha had claimed to have found love letters from him to me. I couldn’t believe it! It was a very rude shock."

Aishwarya also questioned the timing of the scandal, asking, “If this was true, why didn’t this information come out in July ’94? If that was the reason for her split with Rajeev, why wait nine months to bring it up?”

She later revealed that Manisha had tried to defend herself by claiming she was misquoted, but the damage had already been done. The media frenzy took its toll on Aishwarya, who was deeply affected by the public scrutiny.

While the controversy is now a forgotten chapter, Manisha Koirala has made a stunning comeback with her powerhouse performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 'Heeramandi'. The series has been renewed for a second season, but it remains to be seen if Manisha will return.

Meanwhile, Aishwarya is rumoured to reunite with Mani Ratnam for an upcoming film with her husband Abhishek Bachchan. The duo previously collaborated on 'Guru' and 'Raavan', and fans are eagerly waiting to see them on screen again.

Even decades later, this infamous Bollywood love triangle continues to fascinate fans. Was it a misunderstanding, or was there more to the story? While we may never know the full truth, one thing is for sure—Bollywood’s '90s gossip was just as dramatic as its movies!