Rani Mukerji weds Aditya Chopra: A quiet Bollywood romance

After five years of clandestine meetings, denying reports of dating each other and hiding from shutter bugs actress Rani Mukerji and YRF head Aditya Chopra finally tied the knot in Italy. The reclusive Aditya is rarely spotted at social gatherings, while Rani had intentionally kept the relationship under wraps for years. Reports of Rani dating Aditya emerged in 2009, just about the same time when it was rumoured that his marriage with childhood sweetheart Payal Khanna was on the rocks. Khanna, an interior decorator by profession, was very close to Aditya’s parents Pamela and Yash Chopra. Some reports claim that Rani was the reason that the marriage came apart, but they were never confirmed. Yash and Pamela Chopra were reportedly against Aditya’s relationship with Rani in the beginning, but eventually came around. Aditya divorced Payal in 2009. The divorce was reportedly settled outside the court and is said to be one of the most expensive divorce settlements in the history of Bollywood. [caption id=“attachment_1491547” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Aditya Chopra and Rani Mukherji at Adityauday during the Diwali of 2011.[/caption] While Aditya always stayed out the media glare, in the years that followed Rani’s appearances in the media reduced considerably. The actress, who in the span of last five years appeared only in four films ( No One Killed Jessica, Talaash, Aiyyaa and Bombay Talkies) often dodged questions about Chopra. However,  a confirmation of sorts, of her being in a relationship came around  2012, when the actress confirmed during a chat show hosted by Simi Garewal that she is “absolutely in love”. The two were spotted together on a few occasions that same year. Rani Mukheji celebrated the Diwali of 2011 in Adityauday — the Chopra residence, creating a brouhaha in tabloids. The actress was spotted in a purple lehenga lighting crackers with Chopra. They were also spotted having dinner together in a Juhu restaurant by paparazzi. When Yash Chopra passed away in 2011, it became even more evident that Rani had already become a part of the Chopra household. Tears rolling down her eyes, Rani stood along with the Chopra family during the last rites and funeral. While no one confirmed anything, in 2013 reports emerged that Aditya had popped the question in a private party. Rani was also spotted with a huge rock on her ring finger only furthering speculation, but again with little confirmation from either of the families. Then it became a guessing game about when the two would finally get married. Mukherji’s cousin Kajol, during an episode of Koffee With Karan confessed that she was also curious to know when her cousin would be tying the knot, perhaps only another indication about how private the couple had kept their relationship. While Kajol clearly wasn’t in the know it seems Chopra’s younger brother — Uday knew a lot. However, he preferred to keep mum. “I would not like to comment on that. I have no intentions of getting my head chopped off.” Uday  said when asked about his brother’s relationship with Rani. It was Shatrughan Sinha who only fanned rumours when he addressed Rani as Rani Chopra during the unveiling of Yash Chopra’s statue. While rumours  of a February 2014 wedding for the couple spread like wild fire, the date came and went without any announcement resulting in a natural death for the rumours. However,  with YRF issuing a press release announcing the couple’s marriage after five long years of rumours, it finally ends all the speculation around the couple. For now.