Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai has spoken out about long-standing rumours of a secret marriage to actor Salman Khan.
The allegations, which resurfaced amid reports of her alleged divorce from husband Abhishek Bachchan, claimed the two had married privately before she joined the Bachchan family.
Indian media reported that the supposed wedding took place at a bungalow in Lonavala, with a Mumbai-based cleric conducting the ceremony.
The reports also suggested that Aishwarya Rai converted to Islam for the marriage, which was kept hidden from her family.
According to rumours, the couple even went on a secret honeymoon to New York.
The speculations had a negative impact on Aishwarya Rai’s film career at the time.
In an interview, she firmly denied the rumours, stating, “If the news were true, the industry would have known about it, because it's a small world. I'm not someone who would hide my marriage.”
Aishwarya Rai added that she would announce her wedding with pride if it ever happened, dismissing the claims as baseless.
The actress had a long-standing friendship with Salman Khan, and their relationship was once expected to lead to marriage before they eventually parted ways.
On the professional front, Aishwarya was last seen in 'Ponniyin Selvan 2'. She has limited her on-screen appearances, making her fans miss her.
Recently, she was honoured with the Best Actress award at the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2024.
The South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) is being held in Dubai.
This two-day celebration recognises outstanding achievements in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam cinema.
Established in 2012, SIIMA has become a major annual event, highlighting the best in South Indian films and celebrating cinematic excellence across these diverse languages.
She received the accolade for her exceptional performance in the film Ponniyin Selvan 2.
The film, directed by Mani Ratnam, is based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's acclaimed five-part novel series and features Rai in a dual role.
Her portrayal has garnered widespread acclaim, affirming her stellar presence in South Indian cinema.
At the awards ceremony, Aishwariya was accompanied by her daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan.
The duo walked the red carpet and engaged with fans, capturing the memorable moments on social media.
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