Ash-Abhishek go alag-alag

By: Upala KBR, Mid-Day

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Bollywood's latest 'it' couple, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, have split.

According to close family sources, the Bachchans decided against their marriage after it was discovered that Ash was manglik (with a strong influence of the planet Mangal, or Mars, in her astrological chart) and would cast a dark shadow on her husband's career.

Superstitious family

According to an insider, the Bachchans are a very superstitious family, and didn't want to take any chances with their bachcha's career.

The Bachchan beta had just tasted success, and they didn't want anything to mar that. The negative vibes Abhishek attracted from his fans after his Ash chapter was another factor in the end of this prem kahaani.

Amitabh against it

Says a source close to the family, "Amitabh Bachchan was always against the marriage. Jaya had accepted it with resignation, because of Abishek. But momma Bachchan told people that if Ash and Abhishek did get married, they would stay separately; and not at Jalsa, with the family. If that happened, it wouldn't have taken them much time to split up. Because Abhishek is a very strong-willed person, and doesn't listen to anyone except his parents."

Continues the source, "Till more than two weeks ago, everything was fine between Ash and Abhishek. Ash had been talking to her close friends about marrying him. She had even mentioned how actresses were calling Ashutosh Gowariker and telling him to give her role to them, as she was getting married. Ash had laughed and said, 'They are talking as if I will give up my work after marriage'. Abhishek, too, had told some of his director friends that he would do their films if they signed Ash opposite him."

Havan back out

Then came the crunch, when the Bachchans discovered Ash was manglik. Of course, there are some who insist that it was Abhishek's roving eye that led to the break-up. But Abhishek's friend denies this.

"Anybody with a strong Mangal in their chart casts a negative impact on their spouse's career. But the Bachchans had accepted that. All they wanted was a havan to be conducted by Ash's family, which the Rais initially agreed to. But they backed out at the last moment. In fact Aditya, Ash's brother, doesn't believe in astrology, and asked her not to follow it. Not doing the havan upset Jaya; she categorically told the Rais that it would either be their way, or no way."

What happened in Turkey?

Ash's accident that took place on April 22.

Says a source close to Aishwarya Rai, "The accident wasn't exactly as it was made out to be. They were filming in Badami, for Guru, and it happened after pack-up. Ash was still in her ghaghra-choli and riding an old, wobbly bicycle on the hotel grounds, which is uneven. One bump was quite nasty and she braked hard.

As she was getting off the bike, it tipped to the right and slipped. Purely as a reflex, Ash reached out for a sharp, metal post, and her fingers were gashed in three places. There was a lot of bleeding. It was an accident waiting to happen and Ash made the hotel remove the post forever.

Ash was in pain for some time and had to take tetanus shots. The doctors dressed it up and put her hand in a splint, which came off a day later. She resumed work the next day."