Throwback: Reason behind Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor calling off their engagement

Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor’s relationship was one of the most discussed topics in Bollywood in the past. When their engagement was officially announced during Amitabh Bachchan's grand 60th birthday celebration, it sent waves of excitement across the nation.
The Bachchan and Kapoor families were already connected through the marriage of Raj Kapoor’s grandson, Nikhil Nanda, and Amitabh Bachchan’s daughter, Shweta Bachchan. It was at Nikhil and Shweta’s 1997 wedding that Abhishek and Karisma first crossed paths, leading to a blossoming romance. After five years together, the couple made their relationship official.


The engagement was celebrated with much enthusiasm, and Karisma even shared her happiness by stating that it was a wonderful feeling to be part of such a big family. However, within a few months, the engagement was abruptly called off.
Both families chose to remain silent about the reasons behind the break-up, which only fuelled widespread speculation. According to an old report from Cosmopolitan, Karisma’s mother, Babita, played a crucial role in the fallout. Having raised her daughters, Karisma and Kareena, single-handedly after her split from Randhir Kapoor, Babita was always protective and pragmatic. She was determined to secure her daughters’ futures and reportedly had concerns about Abhishek’s financial stability and career prospects at the time.

While Karisma had already made her mark as a leading actress, Abhishek was still striving to find his footing in Bollywood. The Bachchan family was also dealing with financial challenges due to a struggling production house and mounting debts. Babita allegedly insisted on a prenuptial agreement, requesting that Amitabh transfer a share of his wealth to Abhishek to ensure Karisma’s financial security. However, the Bachchans refused, and this reportedly led to the engagement being called off.
There were also whispers that Karisma was pressured to give up her acting career and that Jaya Bachchan maintained a strong influence over Abhishek’s decisions. Despite years of speculation, the true reasons behind their break-up remain a mystery.
Later, Abhishek Bachchan found love with Aishwarya Rai, and the two tied the knot in 2007. Over the years there have been rumours around their marriage, hinting at some trouble in the paradise. However, both the actors have time and again proved that the rumors hold no truth.
Karisma also got married in 2003 to businessman Sanjay Kapur. Later, in 2013 the duo parted their ways.