Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s birthday throwback revisits her 2009 Oprah Winfrey interview and her memorable response about divorce soon after marriage.
Vaishnavi Gavankar
November 01, 2026 / 12:34 IST
Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
As Aishwarya Rai Bachchan celebrates her birthday today, we look back at a memorable television appearance from 2009, when she and husband Abhishek Bachchan spoke to Oprah Winfrey about marriage, family and their views on divorce. The conversation took place two years after their wedding on Oprah’s show.
During the interview, Abhishek recalled how he proposed to Aishwarya. He explained that he was shooting in New York and would often stand on the balcony of his hotel room, wishing she were there with him. Later, when he took her to the same balcony, she asked him to marry her.
“I was filming in New York, and I used to stand on the balcony of my hotel room and wish that I could be with her. Some time later I took her to the same balcony, and she asked me to marry her,” Abhishek said.
Oprah was also shown footage of the couple’s lavish wedding celebrations outside their Mumbai home. Abhishek explained that Indian weddings tend to be lengthy because people enjoy celebrating every occasion. The host then joked that after such an elaborate wedding, getting divorced must be difficult.
Aishwarya was quick with her response. “We don’t even try and entertain that thought,” she said, making her position clear during the conversation.
The exchange continued on a lighter note when Oprah asked whether the newlyweds lived with Abhishek’s parents and how that arrangement worked. Abhishek turned the question around, asking Oprah whether she lived with her own parents. When she said no, he responded with a playful, “How does that work?”
Their marriage has remained a subject of public curiosity. The couple have a daughter, Aaradhya. For fans, it remains a glimpse of their early years together and easy on-screen rapport.
Looking back at the 2009 conversation on Aishwarya’s birthday, her brief but memorable answer remains the standout moment. Asked about divorce in the context of their grand wedding, she dismissed the idea outright, while Abhishek brought humour to the discussion. The old interview offers a snapshot of the couple speaking about their marriage in their early years together.
The exchange also revealed the couple’s playful dynamic. While Aishwarya answered Oprah’s question directly, Abhishek responded to the question about living with his parents with humour, turning it back on the host. Their easy banter made the interview memorable for viewers.
Vaishnavi Gavankar is a senior entertainment journalist with over 8 years of experience covering Bollywood, Television, OTT platforms, and regional cinema.
first published: Nov 1, 2026 12:34 pm
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