Aishwarya Rai Relationship Timeline: Every Confirmed Romance, Breakup & Marriage To Abhishek Bachchan

Written By: Entertainment Desk

Aug 14, 2026 15:52 IST ⓘ

Explore Aishwarya Rai’s complete relationship timeline.

Aishwarya Rai has been among Bollywood’s most talked-about stars since she was crowned Miss World in 1994. Known globally for her unparalleled beauty, immense talent, and dignified grace, she quickly established herself as one of the most successful and iconic leading ladies in Indian cinema. Over the years, her relationships have attracted significant public attention, often dominating headlines worldwide. From her early modelling days to her highly publicized and controversial romances with top co-stars, Aishwarya’s personal life has always been under the intense glare of the media spotlight.

ALSO READ | Salman Khan Relationship Timeline: Every Confirmed Romance, Breakup And Rumours

She handled the immense scrutiny with a quiet resilience that has come to define her public persona. Today, the global icon has found her happily ever after, perfectly balancing her selective film projects with a deeply settled family life. This timeline explores every confirmed relationship that shaped her journey, the persistent rumours that kept the tabloids guessing, and her beautiful marriage to actor Abhishek Bachchan.

Aishwarya Rai’s Relationship Timeline:

Early 1990s: Rajeev Mulchandani

How They Met

Before achieving massive Bollywood stardom, Aishwarya was a top model in the early 1990s. During this phase, she met and began dating fellow supermodel Rajeev Mulchandani.

Public Appearances

They were frequently seen together doing modelling assignments and photo shoots in the 90s fashion circuit.

Films

None. But they collaborated on several ad campaigns and fashion shows together.

The Breakup

The relationship eventually ended as Aishwarya transitioned from modelling into films and her career skyrocketed. It was widely reported that they naturally drifted apart.

Where They Stand Now

They moved on with their respective lives. Aishwarya Rai rarely speaks about her pre-stardom relationships, maintaining her privacy.

ALSO READ | Aishwarya Rai Shares New Pics With Abhishek Bachchan On Wedding Anniversary

1999-March 2002: Salman Khan

How They Met

Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan grew close while making Sanjay Leela Bhansali's romantic drama ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’. Released on June 18, 1999, the film cast Salman as Sameer and Aishwarya as Nandini, lovers separated by her family. Their chemistry became one of the film's biggest talking points. SLB later recalled that there was “love in the air” during the shoot.

Public Appearances

The romance was never launched through a formal announcement, but it became one of Bollywood's most publicly discussed relationships. Salman acknowledged in a 2002 interview that they were in a relationship, while Aishwarya subsequently confirmed both the romance and the breakup. Their appearances at industry functions and the intense attention surrounding their films made the relationship difficult to keep private.

Films

‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ was the only film in which Salman and Aishwarya played romantic leads. They also briefly shared the screen through cameo or special appearances in ‘Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke’ (2000) and ‘Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam’ (2002).

The Breakup

Aishwarya's most precise account placed their breakup in March 2002. In a later signed statement issued in April 2003, she said she had endured Salman's alcoholism and misbehaviour and alleged verbal, physical and emotional abuse, infidelity and indignity. She called the chapter a “nightmare” and said she would no longer work with him. However, Salman denied ever physically assaulting her in a September 2002 interview. The aftermath spilled into their professional lives and remained a major subject of media scrutiny.

Where They Stand Now

They have completely avoided each other for over two decades. Both stars maintain a strict physical and professional distance, never acknowledging each other publicly.

2003-2005: Vivek Oberoi

How They Met

Aishwarya Rai and Vivek Oberoi became acquainted professionally. During promotions for ‘Kyun Ho Gaya Na’, she said they had first met while discussing an unrealised Vidhu Vinod Chopra film but had not known each other well. They grew closer while working on Samir Karnik's romantic comedy, which was filmed after Aishwarya's split from Salman.

The exact date their romance began was never formally announced. By 2003, however, it was being publicly reported, and Vivek's April 2003 press conference made their closeness impossible to separate from the headlines. At that conference, he alleged that Salman Khan had repeatedly called and threatened him.

Public Appearances

Aishwarya and Vivek largely avoided a conventional public declaration, but their joint promotions and appearances around ‘Kyun Ho Gaya Na’ placed them under constant scrutiny. More importantly, the relationship was acknowledged contemporaneously: Variety described them as a real-life couple in its 2004 review, and Aishwarya reportedly told Stardust in December 2004 that she and Vivek were still together.

Films

Their only film together was ‘Kyun Ho Gaya Na’, released on August 13, 2004. Vivek played Arjun, a commitment-phobic young man, while Aishwarya played Diya, who believes in love and marriage. Amitabh Bachchan also appeared in the film.

The Breakup

The relationship ended in 2005. Neither Aishwarya nor Vivek supplied a public explanation for the split.

Where They Stand Now

There is no public evidence of an ongoing friendship. Vivek married Priyanka Alva in October 2010 and the couple have two children. When asked in 2024 about Aishwarya, Salman and Abhishek, he offered the brief response, “God bless them,” without reopening the past.

2006-Present: Abhishek Bachchan

How They Met

Abhishek Bachchan had clarified that he first met Aishwarya socially over dinner through their mutual friend Bobby Deol, before they became co-stars. They subsequently built a friendship while working on ‘Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke’ (2000) and ‘Kuch Naa Kaho’ (2003). Both were involved with other people during those earlier years. Their friendship changed during ‘Umrao Jaan’ in 2006. In April 2026, Abhishek recalled that they began seeing each other differently during that production and that their bond deepened while making Mani Ratnam's ‘Guru’.

Public Appearances

The pair initially kept the romance private. Speculation intensified as they promoted ‘Umrao Jaan’, ‘Dhoom 2’ and ‘Guru’, but the public milestone came in January 2007. After the New York premiere of ‘Guru’, Abhishek proposed on the balcony of the hotel where he had once imagined marrying her. Their families then made the engagement official on January 14, 2007.

After marriage, Aishwarya and Abhishek regularly appeared together at premieres, awards, weddings and international events. They jointly appeared on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ in 2009 and attended the Academy Awards in 2011. Their family appearances with Aaradhya later became equally prominent.

Films

Aishwarya and Abhishek have starred together in seven films: ‘Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke’ (2000), ‘Kuch Naa Kaho’ (2003), ‘Dhoom 2’ (2006), ‘Umrao Jaan’ (2006), ‘Guru’ (2007), ‘Sarkar Raj’ (2008) and ‘Raavan’ (2010). Aishwarya also joined Abhishek and Amitabh Bachchan for the uber-popular ‘Kajra Re’ song in ‘Bunty Aur Babli’ (2005).

Marriage And Family

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan married on April 20, 2007, in a private ceremony at the Bachchan residence, Prateeksha, in Juhu, Mumbai. The intimate wedding ceremony followed several days of celebrations and became one of the decade's biggest entertainment events.

Their daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan, was born at Mumbai's Seven Hills Hospital on November 16, 2011.

As of August 2026, Aishwarya and Abhishek remain married. Online divorce speculation intensified during 2024 and 2025, fuelled largely by separate arrivals at some events and interpretations of family photographs. No separation or divorce was announced. In December 2025, Abhishek dismissed the stories as false and malicious and described theirs as a happy, healthy family.

Aishwarya then marked their 19th wedding anniversary on April 20, 2026, with family photographs featuring Abhishek and Aaradhya. Days later, Abhishek called her his soulmate and described their 19 years of marriage as a dream.

Aishwarya Rai’s Rumoured Relationships And Unverified Link-Ups

Akshaye Khanna

Aishwarya was occasionally linked to Akshaye Khanna after they starred together in ‘Aa Ab Laut Chalen’ and ‘Taal’, both released in 1999. Their repeated pairing and friendly promotional equation created speculation. Years later, Akshaye called Aishwarya the sexiest woman in Hindi cinema and joked on ‘Koffee With Karan’ that he found it difficult not to stare at her. Neither Aishwarya nor Akshaye has said they dated, and no reliable public chronology establishes a relationship.

Martin Henderson

New Zealand actor Martin Henderson’s name occasionally appears in online dating lists because he starred opposite Aishwarya in Gurinder Chadha's ‘Bride & Prejudice’ (2004). The speculation rests on screen chemistry, promotional appearances and the timing of Aishwarya's international career. There is no first-person statement, documented dating chronology or credible report establishing a romance with Martin Henderson.

Hrithik Roshan

Aishwarya and Hrithik Roshan delivered electrifying chemistry in the blockbuster ‘Dhoom 2’ (2006). Their famous on-screen kiss generated massive buzz, leading tabloids to speculate about an off-screen romance. Rumours also suggested the kissing scene created tension within the Bachchan clan. However, both stars consistently maintained they were strictly professionals and great friends who shared a fantastic on-screen rapport.

Hemant Trivedi

During her early days as a beauty pageant contestant and model, Aishwarya was briefly linked to fashion designer and choreographer Hemant Trivedi, who was instrumental in mentoring her for the Miss World pageant. The bond was widely acknowledged as that of a mentor and muse rather than a romantic relationship.

Aishwarya Rai’s relationship timeline is a testament to her evolution from a globally adored beauty queen to one of Indian cinema's most dignified and resilient icons. While her early career was marked by intensely scrutinized and turbulent romances, she gracefully navigated the immense media glare, never letting the controversies overshadow her professional achievements. Ultimately, her real-life love story found its anchor in Abhishek Bachchan, with whom she has built a strong and private family life.

Recently celebrating 19 years of marriage and ringing in 2026 together in New York, the couple has consistently shut down relentless separation rumours with quiet, steadfast unity. Whether they are making highly anticipated appearances together or fiercely advocating for their daughter Aaradhya’s privacy in court against online misinformation, Aishwarya and Abhishek continue to stand as one of Bollywood's most enduring power couples.