The REAL Reason Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor Called Off Their Engagement, 15 Years Ago!

Not just the most popular wing in the history of Indian Cinema, Bollywood is as much a land of controversies and unsolved mysteries. Be it the films, or the celebrities who carry those films on their shoulders, people have always been obsessed with Bollywood, and the mysterious lives led by film-stars.

Two powerful clans of the film fraternity—the Kapoors and the Bachchans, were about to join hands yet again, when the engagement of Karisma Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan was announced, on Amitabh Bachchan's 60th birthday celebration. But, fans faced the greatest shock of their lives, when abruptly, and completely out of the blue—the engagement was called off, a few months down the line with no information divulged on the reasons behind the same!

Many are unaware that Raj Kapoor's grandson, Nikhil Nanda was married to Shweta Bachchan, daughter of Amitabh Bachchan, which is how the families got related in the first place.

Apparently, in 1997 at their wedding, Karisma and Abhishek cozy-ed up, and started dating. The couple was happy, and very much in love, but their love story caught the public eye only five years later, and everyone could just talk of wedding bells.

The entire fiasco certainly broke the love-birds' hearts, and set ablaze a streak of rumours and speculations that could have possibly been the cause behind the split.

Over the years, the families have moved on, but this mystery still remains unravelled. In an interview, Jaya Bachchan stated that none of the families were responsible for the engagement being called off, but in fact it was Abhishek's decision—which he had painfully taken on his own!

The industry however thought different. A lot of threads on Quora and umpteen tabloids pointed out that the real reason behind the sudden split was none other than Karisma's mother—Babita. Having undergone a tough phase in her life, especially in the context of bringing up two daughters after her separation from Randhir Kapoor, Babita knew the value of money, and obviously wanted a stable, and secure future for her daughters.

In the late nineties, while Karisma was a rising actor, and had accolades in the likes of a National Award to her credit—Abhishek, on the other hand was nothing more than Amitabh's son. To add to that, the Bachchan family was undergoing severe financial losses after Amitabh's deteriorating career in acting, and debts accrued on account of a failed production house. Babita had serious doubts on Abhishek's credibility, which is why she allegedly demanded a pre-nup, with some particular proportion of Amitabh's wealth in the name of Abhishek, so as to enable financial security for her daughter, Karisma. This was not acceptable to Amitabh, which eventually led to the wedding being called off.

Media speculated left and right over the whole issue, and came up with rumours—from Karisma's reluctance to move into the Bachchan household, to she being discouraged to continue her career in acting, from Jaya Bachchan's dominating influence over Abhishek, to Babita's interference in Karisma's life.

In the end, the heartbroken and estranged couple moved on in their lives, but history knows that they sacrificed love in order to please their respective families. While Karisma's marital bliss hit turbulent waters again, more than a decade later—Abhishek's marriage with Aishwarya Rai is going steady as a rock, by God's grace.

Watch the news clip of their broken engagement here—

[youtube ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeB2wtzsE6g[/youtube]