To Be Mrs. B

After months of rumor, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan are formally engaged, sending their Bollywood fans into a tizzy. Speculation is now rife in the world of “Abhishwarya”: Will the wedding be held on Feb 19 or Mar 5? Will the married couple move into the house supposedly originally bought for Abhishek and Karisma Kapoor? How will the Kapoor clan react? Will Aishwarya’s purportedly manglik horoscope bring ill luck to Abhishek and destroy his career, as it did to her former beaus?

Until recently, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan are two people few would have ever thought of pairing in a real life romance. Their (flop) movie together, Dhai Akshar Prem Ke (2002), convinced the public that they hardly deserved to hold hands in the reel world, let alone say “I do” anywhere else. It’s likely the two never saw merit in an off screen, larger-than-life romance after their initial box office failure.

Instead, in the intervening years, Aishwarya went through a tumultuous relationship with the purportedly abusive Salman Khan. Then Vivek Oberoi came to her rescue as her knight in shining armor only to leave after another messy ending. Abhishek had his own engagement-and-then-breakup debacle with Karisma Kapoor over an alleged prenuptial agreement, followed by speculation about people’s choice Rani Mukherjee as the bahu to be for the Bachchan khandaan. Tradition tells the world that Rani is presumably perfect, because she hails from the same state as Abhishek’s mom and brilliant actress Jaya Bachchan (nee Bahaduri).

In early 2006, following the especially spiced-up buzz over how AB’s Baby (the unkind term coined for Abhishek as he stumbled around trying to find his feet in the movie industry and only seemed to have his father Amitabh Bachchan for identity) went crazy waiting for and doting on Aishwarya at his birthday party, there was a media storm about Abhishek and Aishwarya’s janam kundalis, birth charts, being compared. However, when nothing materialized, it was whispered that their stars did not align and a lull followed.By the end of 2006 though, things appeared to be in high gear again, despite Aish and Abhi’s continued semi-tepid pairing on the big screen – nothing matches the flames that erupt onscreen between Aish and Sallu in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Post the cult success of the “Kajra Re” song special of Bunty Aur Babli where Aishwarya Rai wowed the world with Abhishekh Bachchan and his father, Amitabh Bachchan, and Umrao Jaan where the duo starred opposite each other once more, stories started to fly everywhere.

With the declaration of their engagement right after the New York premiere of Guru, their latest movie together, we now know that rumors of the Bachchan family astrologer declaring 2006 inauspicious for their pairing were obviously true. 2007 is the auspicious year when they will actually tie the knot. And it is apparently the right time in their careers too, for while Aishwarya has continued her steady rise, AB junior too has found a strong footing in the Indian film industry, with his own acting style – reminiscent of, and yet so different from, his father’s  – his own niche, his own unfailing following (just witness his searing performance in Guru) that is not to say there aren’t eyebrow-raising issues on both sides. Aishwarya has been accused by gossip columnists of not liking a failure, but we can see that Abhishek is certainly in no danger of being that anytime soon. At the same time, marriage to Abhishekh is supposed to go hand in hand with a prenup for his spouse that she will stop working in movies post marriage. However, with recent, markedly unkind, articles asking how much longer she can hope to play the leading lady after turning 33, Aish may not necessarily balk at such a proposition. Both parties have had their share of heartaches and a lot of whispered he-said, she-said. Perhaps it is only fair that they should finally find compatible love and some peace from paparazzi and rumor mills.

Alas, not before we overseas Indians get to express our thoughts on the union.

Ruchi is an evolved, architect-in-training based out of New York. But you had better not pick an argument with her, because you will lose!

The first thought that ran through my mind at the news was amazement at the media frenzy.  Why is everyone so into their business?  It’s sad how a lot of people get caught up in the lives of strangers. I don’t even understand why and how it happens! Most people hate getting critiqued on their lifestyles and choices, especially by strangers, so why should anyone (except the immediate circle of loved ones) discuss Aishwarya and Abhishek’s wedding? Sigh…OK, I’m being a little silly and extreme, but it just really irks me how the local news seems to focus more on Madonna’s “new accessory” or “Brangelina” than anything else. Who cares! Or nobody should care. This shouldn’t be in the news. Then we wonder why the “stars” behave haughtily or why they find the need to protect their privacy.

S.B. is an artist with a warm heart and talent galore.
 
I am glad for the two in question, but I can’t help wondering why or how a seemingly down to earth guy like AB would end up with a person like Aish. She does seem way too fake and narcissistic for him. I am very disappointed, but wish him well and hope that this won’t affect his performance.

MR loves all things fashion!

Well, this is what I think. She is beautiful and he is so-so. I don’t know if I want what I say published with my name attached, in case they come running after me. However, it is almost shocking that she is marrying him, seeing how incredibly beautiful, talented and well spoken of a person she is. I think she could do much better and be with someone much more sophisticated, and perhaps someone non-Bollywood connected.

Manan Katohora known for his publicity guns and passion for film, is editor for the web portal www.whackywednesday.com.

At the end of the day, stars, actors, celebrities, are regular, ordinary souls living in an extra-ordinary world. I think we should give them their space and privacy. Especially now that they’re engaged, it’s a beautiful time that they deserve to enjoy together, alone. I am happy for them (Aish, Abhishek).Let’s leave them alone and let them do their work.

Seema Malik is a Manhattan based architect by profession, artiste by temperament, co-producer of the play, A First Class Man, and a huge Bollywood buff.

I have a lot of thoughts on this topic. I have been following the many rumors about the two of them and I was way excited by this announcement, because I like both of them. I did wonder if the recent hype was because of their movies together, but obviously, with this engagement, it’s based on the truth.  Of course, the timing of the rumors didn’t hurt the box office sales. I must admit last night I was googling to find out details and if a statement had been made by Amitabh.

I still wonder about Abhishek and Karisma’s break-up and what the reason was. I heard it was because of a pre-nup and she was asked to quit movies. I wonder if Aish would do that. I also thought Aish and Salman were a great couple, but there was too much melodrama. I thought Abhishek-Karisma and Aish-Salman were better suited together for each other. But of course, I know nothing about them and how they got along, etc. I also think they have a right to keep their lives private and not disclose things till they want to. But they can’t blame us for being curious and interested.

I can see why the family want her to be the one, and so it could be more their choice than his. She is older than him, but she is still young, in her early thirties. I think she made a smart decision as opposed to the Sridevis, Madhuris, Rekhas and Hema Malinis. This is a good match, this is the right age to get married.  She is going to stay where she belongs instead of mysteriously fading away, hopefully!

I think the Bachchan last name suits her. You wonder if a heroine can change her name. In this case I think she will. If I were Amitabh and had to pick a bahu for Abhishek she would undoubtedly be the one, except maybe for Priety.
 
Sana’a is a Pakistan based investment banker by day and movie buff and singer by hobby.

I think Abhi could find someone with more substance. Although their on-screen chemistry seems to have worked, I’m not too sure about their off-screen pairing up!

Anju Joshi is a London based model, actress and classical dancer.

The Ash-Abhi marriage. It would be interesting to know about what’s happening, but it is their personal life and we are being bombarded with details about their every move by the Indian news channels. At the end of the day, I take it that if I have my secrets in my personal life and I get famous, I don’t want them to come after me and make my life tough, just to satisfy public curiosity, sell papers. I can also see how it would be embarrassing for the two of them if things don’t work out after the hype. Good to see them get married. They look good together.

SV loves basketball, hiphop and all things eclectic.

Yeah, I have some shameless curiosity about celebrities, but not to the point of having opinions – more of a passive observer. No further comments.

Priya says what she feels.

I always thought Aish was better off with someone like Salman Rushdie than Salman Khan. In this pairing, she’ll be tops and torture poor Abhishek. Who knows what’s he’s into though? Perhaps Abhishek enjoys that kinky stuff.

R is a daydreamer by day… and night!

I think Abhishekh is cute and deserves a man, not a woman. I mean what was he thinking, especially when he could come back to me.

Some names have been abbreviated or last names withheld on request.