Dhai akshar publicity ke?(abhi-ash)

Dhai akshar publicity ke?

Will timely rumours of Ash-Abhishek's marriage add more jaan to Umrao Jaan?

Mumbai Mirror Bureau

When news of Ash-Abhishek's alleged February shaadi leaked out recently, we sensed that something was amiss. Otherwise tight-lipped about their personal lives, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan have begun to react to 'stories' suddenly. Is it a mere coincidence that their film Umrao Jaan is less than a week away from its release? Trade analysts dismiss the act as a publicity stunt.

Earlier this year, it was mentioned that Ash won't be able to marry Abhishek because she is a manglik, but now it seems that their family astrologer Chandrashekhar Swamiji from Bangalore has given a green signal to the couple. Not just that, it was also reported that Ash will make a formal announcement about her marriage on her birthday this November, just before the release of Umrao Jaan. "Oh please, none of us are fools," says a Bollywood actor. "We all know that they are trying to promote the film. There is no harm in promoting your product, but why con the public?" he says.

Trade analyst Amod Mehra states, "There has to be fire if there is smoke. It is obvious that Ash and Abhishek are having an affair, and I think this 'marriage story' is part of the publicity campaign to promote their forthcoming film Umrao Jaan. There is no doubt that it creates some kind of curiosity among the viewers. No doubt, either, that audiences will discuss it till the film releases. But I feel that such publicity doesn't help the fate of the film at the box-office. Excitement will fizzle out if the content of the film is not liked by the viewers."

Mehra points out that this has been a popular trend in Bollywood since Amitabh-Rekha and Dharmendra-Hema Malini's era. Recently, Kareena Kapoor and Shaahid Kapoor were also spotted together, talking about marriage just before the release of 36, China Town.

Trade analyst Vinod Mirani also feels that the Ash-Abhishek shaadi is indeed a publicity gimmick designed by J P Dutta to promote his product. "How come both the actors are talking about their personal life suddenly?" he says. "How come Ash decided to marry Abhishek just before the release of Umaro Jaan? I think the industry and stars both have become desperate. Incidentally, no one is interested in seeing a real-life couple on screen, and if the couple decides to marry, the interest level only falls further," he adds.

"This trend started off with Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi when the publicist ticked off rumours about the Akshay Kumar-Rekha link-up. Frankly speaking, in India what finally counts is the content. I think they must have done this (Ash-Abhishek rumour) to add more jaan to Umrao Jaan. Considering the way they both are denying their off-screen relationship, I doubt how far rumours of their marriage are true," says Komal Nahata, editor of Film information.