Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on her friendship with Rani Mukerji: 45 days that bonded them
Synopsis
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan once described her bond with Rani Mukerji as effortless — forged over 45 days on a world tour and sealed by Rani’s on-air 'friends forever' declaration. The irony: it was a single casting decision on 'Chalte Chalte' that reportedly unravelled all of it.
Key Takeaways
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan revealed the friendship with Rani Mukerji developed during a world concert tour where they spent nearly 45 days together.
Aishwarya made the disclosure in a throwback interview on the talk show 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai' .
Rani Mukerji sent a heartfelt video message for the episode, declaring “we are going to be friends forever.” The friendship reportedly fractured after Aishwarya was replaced by Rani in the 2003 film 'Chalte Chalte' opposite Shah Rukh Khan .
Neither actress has publicly addressed the reported rift or the casting change in detail.
Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan once opened up candidly about the close bond she shared with Rani Mukerji, describing how an international concert tour brought the two together — and how a Bollywood casting decision may have eventually driven them apart.
How the Friendship Began
In a throwback appearance on the talk show 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai', Aishwarya recalled that she and Rani first properly connected during a world tour, where the two spent nearly 45 days performing, travelling, and living alongside their families. She described the experience as one that naturally dissolved any awkwardness between them.
Aishwarya said, “Two years ago, actually, we had met once. She’s also a very warm girl. Very friendly. Very easy, also. We’ve got no hang-ups. It’s really, really easy. And we were on the world tour together, our first world tour together, doing shows.”
She added, “During the shows, we got to live together for virtually 45 days. We were performing, we were working, we were staying together, and the bond grew from there. We were with our families. This was two and a half years ago, and we’ve kept in touch ever since and through it all. I mean, I know people find it very tough to believe that actresses in the same world can have all kinds of problems. But no.”
Rani Mukerji’s Heartfelt Video Message
Notably, Rani Mukerji was originally scheduled to appear on the same episode of the show alongside Aishwarya, but was unable to attend due to ill health. In her absence, Rani sent a video message that underscored just how deep the friendship had grown.
In the message, the 'Bunty Aur Babli' actress said, “You know I love you. I’m so sorry I couldn’t come for the show because you know I’m unwell. As you know, I’m always unwell and couldn’t make it to Delhi. But just to let you know that I love you and you mean a lot to me. I just love you Aish. I don’t think I need to say it. But because of everyone I have to say it on TV again. I just want to say one thing that we are going to be friends forever.”
The Turning Point: Chalte Chalte
Despite the warmth on display, the friendship reportedly did not endure. The rupture, according to widely reported accounts, traces back to the 2003 film 'Chalte Chalte'. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was originally cast as the female lead opposite Shah Rukh Khan, but was subsequently replaced by Rani Mukerji.
The circumstances surrounding that casting change were never officially addressed by either actress, but the fallout reportedly created a lasting rift. What had appeared to be one of Bollywood’s more genuine cross-star friendships gradually faded from public view.
Challenging the Bollywood Rivalry Narrative
This comes amid a broader pattern in Bollywood where female co-stars are routinely portrayed as rivals rather than peers. Aishwarya’s remarks on the show were a direct pushback against that narrative — making the subsequent estrangement all the more striking in hindsight.
Both actresses went on to build formidable individual careers: Aishwarya through films such as 'Taal' and 'Devdas', and Rani through a string of critically acclaimed performances. Whether their friendship ever fully recovered remains a matter of speculation.
Point of View
Yet the industry’s mechanics may have enforced it anyway. The 'Chalte Chalte' episode was never officially explained by either side, which means the public record rests entirely on inference and reportage. That silence is itself telling — and reflects a wider reluctance among A-list actors to address industry politics on the record.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Rani Mukerji become friends?
The two actresses grew close during an international world concert tour where they spent nearly 45 days performing, travelling, and living together with their families. Aishwarya described the experience as one that made their bond natural and easy, dismissing the notion that actresses in the same industry cannot be genuine friends.
What did Rani Mukerji say about her friendship with Aishwarya on 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai'?
Unable to attend the episode in person due to ill health, Rani sent a video message in which she said, “I just want to say one thing that we are going to be friends forever.” The message was widely seen as a public affirmation of their close bond at the time.
What reportedly caused a rift between Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Rani Mukerji?
The reported falling-out is linked to the 2003 film 'Chalte Chalte', in which Aishwarya was originally cast as the female lead opposite Shah Rukh Khan but was subsequently replaced by Rani Mukerji. The circumstances were never officially explained by either actress.
Did Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Rani Mukerji ever address their fallout publicly?
Neither actress has publicly addressed the reported rift in detail. The estrangement has largely been pieced together through industry reportage and the noticeable absence of any public interaction between the two in the years following the 'Chalte Chalte' episode.
Why is this Aishwarya-Rani friendship story significant in Bollywood?
It stands out because both actresses actively challenged the stereotype of female rivalry in Bollywood, making the reported fallout — triggered by a casting change — a pointed illustration of how industry dynamics can override personal relationships.
