Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan in a still from Umrao Jaan. Photo Credit: JP Films14 Jan 2007 (Sawf News) - Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan were engaged in a small ceremony that took place at the former Miss World's house in Mumbai on Sunday (14 Jan 2007).
Aishwarya's secretary, Hari Singh, confirmed the engagement to BBC. The ceremony was a low key affair in which just the families and close friends participated.
The guest list included family friend and politician Amar Singh, actors Anupam and Kiron Kher, industrialist Anil Ambani and wife Tina, director Karan Johar and Abhishek's close friends including director Goldie Behl and wife Sonali Bendre.
Amitabh Bachchan briefly spoke to the media and urged them to give the couple some private space.
Over the past six months media speculations that Aishwarya and Abhishek are set to tie the knot have gradually mounted. On 27 Nov 2006 the entire Bachchan family assembled at Varanasi to commemorate the birth anniversary of Amitabh's father Late Harivanshrai Bachchan. The surprise inclusion of Aishwarya in the otherwise private family gathering signaled the acceptance of the Bollywood star as a member of the Bachchan family.
According to source Abhishek popped the question to Aishwarya soon after the New York premier of the film Guru.
Former Miss World (1994) Aishwarya Rai, 33, has in the past dated Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi.
She was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 2003 as Bollywood's leading lady and was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey and David Letterman.
Abhishek Bachchan, 30, is the son of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.
He was engaged to Bollywood actress Karishma Kapoor but the marriage was called off. He has starred in several successful films and was voted the sexiest Asian man by a British newspaper last year.
Abhishek and Aishwarya have together starred in Hindi films like Dhai Akshar Prem Ke, Kuch Na Kaho, Umrao Jaan, Dhoom II and the recently released Mani Ratnam`s Guru.
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