Aishwarya, Abhishek one step short of marriage

Mumbai, Jan 15: Former Miss World and Bollywood actress AishwaryaRai got engaged to actor Abhishek Bachchan, son of mega super starAmitabh Bachchan, at a simple function here last evening. The ceremony took place at Aishwarya's La Mer residence in the presence of family members, according to close sources.

Abhishek had proposed to Aishwarya yesterday in New York duringthe premiere of their latest film ''Guru'', the sources said. Theengagement took place immediately after their return.

Later, family members and friends gathered at ''Jalsa'', theresidence of the Bachchans at Juhu here, to celebrate the occasion.

Aishwarya's business manager Hari Singh informed the couple had arrivedfrom New York this afternoon, and the engagement ceremony was held atAishwarya's Bandra residence ''La Mer''. Asked whether a marriage datehad also been fixed, Mr Singh said it was too early for that.

Speculations about Aishwarya-Abhishek marriage gained momentumafter Abhishek's uncle Ajitabh visited a Bangalore-based astrologer,known to be close to Aishwarya's family, with horoscopes last month.

The pair has featured opposite each other in films like ''DhaiAkshar Prem Ke'', ''Kuch Na Kaho'', ''Umrao Jaan'' and the latest''Guru''. Both of them, although not cast opposite each other, alsofeature in ''Dhoom 2''. In ''Bunty Aur Babli'', Aishwarya has featuredin an item number ''Kajra Re'' with Abhishek and Amitabh.

UNI