Abhishek Bachchan has spoken about his relationship with Aishwarya Rai, to whom he has been married for almost 20 years. The two have co-starred in multiple films and share a daughter, Aaradhya. In a recent conversation with Lilly Singh, Abhishek revealed that from the very start of their relationship, there was never any sense of competition between them over their careers or who was more successful.
What Abhishek stated
During the discussion, Abhishek looked back on his professional life and marriage, saying, “When my parents married, my mother was a far bigger star than my father. So it never felt unusual to me. I wasn’t raised to believe that you must be the dominant one; it was always about equality and partnership. I have known Aishwarya since the beginning of my career. My second film was with her, and she is the actress I have collaborated with the most. At that time, we weren’t romantically involved; we were close friends and remained that way.”
He went on to say, “When we finally came together—through our courtship, engagement, and then marriage—it was always about being equal partners. There has never been a conversation like, ‘I’ll provide the food and you handle the house.’ It’s never even brought up; it just happens naturally. But for me, that stems from a strong sense of ego. I am not the kind of person who wants to win because someone else stepped aside and let me pass. I was brought up to believe that you must earn your victories. My father did not launch my career and has not made a film for me so far. In fact, I ended up producing a film for him. I am grateful for that. Whatever I am today, I can honestly say I have achieved it on my own merit. When I talk about ego, I mean that I have never been the sort of person who needs someone else to quit or slow down in order for me to win the race.”
Abhishek and Aishwarya initially crossed paths in the early 2000s and later worked together on films like Dhoom 2 and Guru. The two married in April 2007 and welcomed their daughter, Aaradhya, in 2011. Throughout the years, they have mostly kept their personal lives out of the spotlight, opting to respond to speculation only from time to time.
Aishwarya’s most recent appearance was in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), and she has not yet revealed her upcoming project. Abhishek last appeared in Madhumita’s Kaalidhar Laapata, which also featured Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Daivik Bhagela. His next role will be in Siddharth Anand’s King, where he will star alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, and others.