Ash, Abhi finally lucky in love

On April 20 actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai will be proclaimed man and wife but the couple’s respective journey to the mandap hasn’t been smooth. So, here's a look at their romantic link-ups till holy matrimony happened

Mumbai: They are Bollywood's latest golden couple. Actor and scion of Bollywood's first family weds former Miss World and A-list actress in her own right.

But it's not been a smooth ride in cupid's territory for either Abhishek or Aishwarya.

Even before Bachchan Junior made a splash on the big screen he was courting actress Karisma Kapoor and things were serious enough for an engagement to be announced on Amitabh Bachchan's 60th birthday in 2002.

But the ties snapped within a year and the Kapoors and Bachchans parted ways.

While Abhishek was romancing Karisma, Aishwarya was acting out her reel romance with Salman Khan in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in real life. But the affair made news for all the wrong reasons.

By 2002 Vivek Oberoi, then an upcoming actor, became Aishwarya's knight in shining armour, almost rescuing the actress from the alleged abusive relationship.

The resulting clash between the men in her life became fodder for tabloids and gossip columns.

As critics gave a thumbs down to the couple's onscreen chemistry, Aishwarya kept mum on the personal equation. Soon international fame bekoned Aishwarya and even before Vivek realised it – the lady had moved on.

Meanwhile, from Rani Mukherji to Dipanita Sharma – the grapevine buzzed with Abhishek's linkups.

But as his career soared, none of them had the dus bahane to make a Ms Right.

And then cupid struck and a parallel real life love story was scripted as Abhishek and Aishwarya shot for Umrao Jaan and Guru over 2005 and 2006, and the rest, as they say, is history.

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