In the world of Bollywood, where glamour and intrigue go hand in hand, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan’s romance was nothing short of a fairytale. The former Miss World and the son of the legendary Amitabh Bachchan made headlines in 2006, not just for their professional collaborations but also for their blossoming relationship. However, the couple’s love story soon became tangled in an absurd rumour that would follow them for years — Aishwarya Rai was allegedly "manglik," a belief that supposedly led her to marry a tree before she could marry Abhishek.
The term manglik refers to an astrological condition in Hindu beliefs, suggesting that a person born under a certain planetary alignment would face hardships in marriage unless they undergo a specific ritual to appease the planets. This idea led to the bizarre narrative that Aishwarya had performed a kumbh vivah—a marriage to a tree—before her wedding to Abhishek Bachchan. The story was fed by the media and tabloids, and soon became a subject of ridicule.
The Rumor Mill Goes into Overdrive
It all started in 2006 when reports emerged about Aishwarya and Abhishek’s alleged trip to Varanasi, where they were supposedly advised by an astrologer to perform a kumbh vivah to “correct” Aishwarya’s manglik dosha. According to a 2006 Hindustan Times article, an astrologer confirmed the rumour, claiming that both families had visited an ancient Shiva temple in Varanasi at his suggestion.
Aishwarya, who had been relentlessly scrutinized by the media, eventually responded to these rumors in a 2008 interview with NDTV, where she recalled the emotional toll it took on her. In her own words, she said, “Yes, there was so much of that. I just thought it was so unnecessary. To dedicate the kind of prime time, the kind of newsprint, the kind of magazine cover stories for all of that was very unnecessary." She went on to add that while the family remained solid and supportive, it was Amitabh Bachchan, her father-in-law, who took it upon himself to face the media when the time was right:
“The wonderful part was that, as a family, we are solid. We are all in the public eye, and we have ample opportunity to voice ourselves, but instead of adding to the din, we decided to have the father of the family… Paa did meet the media at a very decided point in time way after the wedding and answered all the queries.”
Aishwarya Faces Humiliation Abroad
The incessant coverage of the "tree marriage" rumors not only dominated Indian tabloids but also haunted Aishwarya internationally. She recalled how during one of her international trips, she was confronted by foreign media who asked her about the "curse" she supposedly carried. “It’s shocking. While we would like to imagine that it is a passing phase, it gets logged,” Aishwarya explained, detailing her frustration at having to explain away the ludicrous nature of the rumors. She remembered, “You’re constantly interacting with international media, and when they start wondering at the sheer ludicrous nature of everything, like, ‘You got married to a tree, and you have this huge curse on you?’ You just think, ‘Oh my god, where am I going to start…’”
It wasn’t just the media that perpetuated the absurd rumor, but a series of tabloid stories that had furthered the narrative, adding to the pressure on the actress. The rumors turned into a public spectacle, with much of the media speculating about Aishwarya’s life, her marriage, and even her fate.
The Bachchans Respond with Wit and Poise
While the rumour mill ran rampant, Abhishek Bachchan, known for his wit and humor, decided to take a lighthearted jab at the situation. Several years after their wedding, he took to Twitter to joke about the tree marriage myth, writing: “And just for the record, we are still looking for this tree.” His tweet cleverly defused the absurdity of the situation while showing the couple’s resilience in the face of ridiculous speculation.
Aishwarya's father-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan, also addressed the matter with characteristic poise. In a 2007 interview with The Times of India, he shut down the rumours entirely, stating, “Where is the tree? Please show it to me. The only person she’s married is my son. Unless you think Abhishek is a tree.” This tongue-in-cheek remark from Amitabh, who is known for his commanding presence in both films and real life, reflected the family’s stance: they would not be swayed by baseless gossip.
The Legacy of the "Manglik" Rumor
Despite the light-hearted responses from the Bachchan family, the *manglik* controversy had a lasting effect, and it inadvertently brought attention to the concept of *mangal dosha*. A generation of young people who had never heard of *manglik* or *kumbh vivah* before, suddenly found themselves researching astrology and the superstition surrounding it. Aishwarya’s wedding to Abhishek became the talk of the town not just because of the glamour, but also due to the scrutiny surrounding her supposed *manglik* status.
While such rumors often fade into oblivion, this one was particularly hard to shake off, mainly because it was so bizarre and publicly ridiculed. Yet, in the end, the Bachchans’ response to the situation was a model of grace under pressure. Instead of allowing the media frenzy to affect them, they chose to address the absurdity with humor and dignity, proving that not all rumors need to be taken seriously.
Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan’s relationship, despite the odd distractions, continues to stand the test of time. Their marriage, which began with romance on screen and transitioned into real life, remains one of Bollywood’s most beloved unions. In a world where personal lives are often dissected and sensationalized, the Bachchan family showed us how to tackle ridiculous rumours with class—and just a touch of humor.
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