Over the years, Bollywood link-ups have been a dime a dozen – every time a new film rolls around, or simply when the media is bored, one actor gets linked to another. But what probably has the media more excited than a link-up is a break-up, morbid as that may be – it keeps everyone writing for days on what happened, why it happened and what’s going to happen next. So here’s a look at the top 10 Bollywood break-ups that have kept the journalists busy and the audience entertained!
1. Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai
Their romance and break-up could be a Bollywood film in itself – she, a Miss World winner; he, the handsome guy with a troubled past. However, after two years of dating, the two separated allegedly because Salman Khan used to physically, verbally and emotionally abuse Aishwarya. Salman has denied this, so who knows what the truth really is?
2. Aishwarya Rai and Vivek Oberoi
Somehow Aishwarya used to pick the guys with the drama! There were reports of her dating Vivek, and while he was vocal about it, she rarely commented on it to the media. Then there was that whole issue where Vivek Oberoi called a press conference to talk about how abusive Salman Khan was, after which Vivek disappeared for a while. No one knows the reason behind the death of this relationship – it could be that Aishwarya moved on to Abhishek, or it could be that Vivek’s nosediving career didn’t sit right with her. Either way, they’re happily married now – to different people!
3. Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor
This was one relationship many thought would last. They were dating for three years and always looked very much in love; the media was just waiting for the wedding date. Then, when their film Jab We Met was releasing, news started surfacing of the duo’s break-up. At first, many thought it was a publicity stunt for the movie, but then it emerged that it was true.
4. Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor
Their engagement was announced on papa Amitabh Bachchan‘s 60th birthday birthday, but soon after, it was called off. Reports suggest that either Jaya Bachchan wasn’t too happy with the alliance or there was a tiff between the families during wedding planning, but in any case they went separate ways.
5. Reena Datta and Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan‘s ‘family man’ image took a hit in 2002 when he divorced Reena Datta, who he had been married to for 15 years (ever since the start of his career). Apparently, cracks had begun to show in the relationship and then Aamir met Kiran Rao on sets of Lagaan, which prompted him to leave Reena. He married Kiran in December of 2005.
6. Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh
Saif Ali Khan and Amirta Singh are another Bollywood couple who got divorced. They were married for thirteen years, after which they split for unknown reasons. Amrita Singh has gone on record to say that only she and Saif know the truth, and beyond that they have been mum on their relationship and the reason for its failure.
7. Bipasha Basu and John Abraham
This two made an absolutely sizzling pair, but unfortunately it fizzled out. They were together and no one would have guessed their break up, but the couple parted ways apparently because John wasn’t willing to commit. Except… he then started seeing Priya Runchal, apparently got married to her, and is now hiding her… what’s up with that?
8. Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja
These two never admitted that they were dating, but the rumor mills were churning – they showed up together most places, were spotted sneaking into a movie together, and apparently spent hours chatting on the phone when they weren’t shooting together. But things went sour somewhere in between – the public appearances stopped and they allegedly didn’t spend a moment more than required in each others presence during the shooting of What’s Your Rashee.
9. Sushmita Sen and Randeep Hooda
Sushmita claimed Randeep Hooda was her youngest boyfriend, but somehow things went awry between them and they mutually called it off. In fact, during the promotion of their film Karma Aur Holi, Sushmita started claiming the film was being promoted through sleaze and she now wanted her bedroom scenes with Randeep cut out.
10. Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan
This will probably remain one of Bollywood’s biggest mysteries – what happened here? Did they really have an affair? They have always denied this; it remains unconfirmed but is still widely considered to be the truth. And if they did have an affair, what was the reason for the break-up? The sanctity of marriage? Or did one party just not feel the same way anymore? We may never know, which is exactly what makes it one of Bollywood’s greatest mysteries!