Indian actor Abhishek Bachchan recently addressed long-standing speculation about his marriage, describing wife Aishwarya Rai as his “soulmate” as they approach their 20th anniversary.

In a conversation with Subhash K Jha, the actor reflected on their journey together, effectively putting to rest ongoing rumours about their separation. Abhishek revealed that he first met Aishwarya in 2000 during the shoot of Dhai Akshar Prem Ke, but realised his feelings for her later while filming JP Dutta’s Umrao Jaan.

“We got married a few months after the release of our film Guru together. Mani Ratnam (director) remains special for both of us. We consider him a dear friend and godfather”, he said.

Speaking warmly about his wife, Abhishek added, “Today, Ash is not just the mother of my daughter and full credit to her for bringing up Aaradhya with the right values, but also my soulmate. Nineteen years of our marriage have been a dream. I have big plans for our twentieth anniversary, but I am not telling you about them now.”

He also joked about relationship advice, saying, “Every night before you sleep, say ‘sorry’ three times to your wife without fail.”

Meanwhile, Aishwarya shared glimpses of their family celebrations on Instagram, accompanied by a heart emoji.

The couple married in 2007 in an intimate yet grand ceremony and welcomed their daughter, Aaradhya, in 2011.

Over the years, Abhishek and Aishwarya have faced persistent rumors about their relationship, including speculation about tensions within the Bachchan family. However, his recent remarks appear to firmly dismiss such claims.