'Family comes first': Why Abhishek Bachchan skipped wife Aishwarya Rai's 51st birthday celebrations

Rumours of an impending Abhi-Aish divorce refuse to subside. News of the ‘Devdas’ actress celebrating her 51st birthday sans husband Abhishek Bachchan in Dubai on November 1 has triggered fresh buzz of a rift. The rumours gained some credibility when eagle-eyed netizens noted that neither Abhishek nor any member of the Bachchan family had wished her a happy birthday.

While Bachchan Jr.’s absence at his wife’s birthday may have appeared conspicuous, he had a legitimate reason for it. As per a Rediff report, the ‘Paa’ star was busy visiting his ailing grandmother in Bhopal. A member of the Bachchan family shared with Subhash K Jha that Abhishek was adamant about staying by his maternal grandmother, Indira Bhaduri's, side, as his parents had other commitments to attend.

"I don't want to give away too much of what we have done in the film, but my director Shoojit and I have redefined the feel-good space. Shoojit has so far worked with my dad in one of their finest films, Piku. It is my turn now. I had a ball shooting with Shoojit. I hope he enjoyed himself as much as I did,” the source told Subhash K. Jha.

For the unversed, Jaya Bachchan’s mother Indira, sustained a spinal fracture but remains in stable condition, her caretaker confirmed on Wednesday. "Her condition is fine. She fractured her backbone and was hospitalized. She’s eating well and communicating normally," said caretaker Babli when asked about her health status.

Earlier, rumors of Bhaduri’s death circulated on social media, but actor and family member Rajeev Verma refuted them, telling PTI it was false news and that she is "absolutely fine."

Following reports of Indira Bhaduri's alleged passing, sources close to Jaya Bachchan's family clarified that these claims are untrue. It is confirmed that Bhaduri is currently hospitalized in Bhopal. Various media sources also indicated she had been under medical care for the past few days following her spinal injury.

A source close to the family commented, "Jaya Bachchan and her family are not dealing with any loss at this time. We request fans to remain supportive and seek reliable updates, avoiding misinformation."
"The emotional impact on families during such times is immense, and they shouldn’t have to endure false reports. We urge everyone to respect the Bachchan family’s privacy and rely on verified sources for updates."