The run-up as well as the marriage between Rai and Abhishek Bachchan was heavily covered by the media.[5] Ongoing press coverage was also devoted to the fact that Rai is considered to be a "manglik" [6] Some media reports suggested that Rai underwent a number of rituals before the marriage took place in order to remove her status as a "manglik." [7] Abhishek's father, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, denied these reports. [8] Rai and Bachchan married on 20th April 2007 in a private ceremony.[9] Abhishek was engaged to former actress Karishma Kapoor, but the engagement broke off because her mother Babita thought that he was not a famous actor at that time.