Once seen as the perfect match, Karisma Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan’s relationship took a surprising turn when their engagement in 2002 was called off just months after it was announced. The two had reportedly shared a five years long bond before deciding to part ways and the sudden end to what many believed was a fairytale union left the public stunned. Though speculation around the reason for their breakup persisted, both the families remained largely silent, with only occasional remarks over the years hinting at the emotional toll it took.
In an interview after the split, Karisma Kapoor acknowledged the emotional storm she endured. She described the beginning of that year as a deeply traumatic time, admitting that she wouldn’t wish such an experience on anyone. Dealing with the pain mostly on her own, she spoke of the challenge of confronting emotional upheaval unprepared. For her, healing came with time and while the scars were real, she gradually learned to accept what had happened. In her words, life shuffles its cards in unexpected ways and one simply has to move with the flow of destiny.
Karisma Kapoor expressed deep gratitude toward the media for giving her space during such a vulnerable phase, acknowledging their restraint and empathy. Above all, she credited her family, her parents Babita and Randhir Kapoor, her sister Kareena, her grandmother Krishna Raj Kapoor, her aunts Rima Jain and Ritu Nanda and a few close friends for helping her gather the strength to overcome the heartbreak. She said that their unwavering support made all the difference in her journey toward healing.
Though neither Karisma nor Abhishek ever publicly revealed the exact reasons behind their separation, Amitabh Bachchan offered some insight during a 2005 appearance on Koffee With Karan. Speaking alongside his son Abhishek, the senior Bachchan acknowledged the emotional complexity of the situation. He described it as a sensitive period, one where relationships were being both formed and broken. For any young person, such moments can be distressing, and for the family, equally so. He suggested that when circumstances don’t support a union, it is often wiser for both the people to part ways, just as Abhishek and Karisma eventually did.
Karisma Kapoor moved forward with her life and in 2003, she married Delhi-based industrialist Sunjay Kapur. However, that relationship too proved turbulent. What began as a seemingly stable match eventually collapsed, culminating in a bitter and prolonged divorce battle that started in 2014. Initially filed as a mutual decision, the separation later turned contentious, with both the parties levelling serious allegations against each other.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Bachchan married actress Aishwarya Rai in 2007. The couple has since built a family of their own, welcoming their daughter Aaradhya in 2011, and have largely kept their private life away from the public glare.
