In the ’90s, a famous Bollywood controversy involved a love triangle between Manisha Koirala, model Rajeev Mulchandani, and Aishwarya Rai. Manisha accused Rajeev of cheating with Aishwarya after finding love letters, prompting Aishwarya to publicly deny the claims. She expressed her shock and pain over the allegations, questioning why they surfaced months after her relationship with Rajeev ended. Despite moving on, Aishwarya admitted the episode deeply affected her. Today, Manisha has gained acclaim for her role in the series “Heeramandi,” while Aishwarya is rumored to collaborate with filmmaker Mani Ratnam on a new project.
The 1990s were a whirlwind of scandals, exciting headlines, rumors, and fierce rivalries. One of the most talked-about controversies was an alleged love triangle involving Manisha Koirala, model Rajeev Mulchandani, and Aishwarya Rai.
The drama unfolded when Manisha accused her boyfriend Rajeev of having a secret affair with Aishwarya after reportedly discovering ‘love letters’. Aishwarya, refusing to stay silent about the cheating allegations, publicly denied the claims, expressing how ‘shocked and disappointed’ she felt by the situation.
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During this time, Manisha was rumored to be in a relationship with Rajeev, who had previously been linked to Aishwarya. Reports indicated that Manisha allegedly discovered love letters Rajeev had written to the actress, which fueled speculation of an affair.
In a nostalgic interview, Aishwarya revealed that she had initially wanted to compliment Manisha on her performance in the 1995 film Bombay, but the situation changed dramatically when she learned of the controversy that had embroiled her.
She recounted feeling profoundly affected by the rumors, stating, “I had just watched Bombay and thought Manisha was outstanding. I was even planning to send her flowers to congratulate her. On April 1st, Rajeev called me, and I excitedly shared my admiration for Manisha’s performance. That’s when he laughed and asked if I had seen the news. He told me that Manisha claimed to have found love letters from him to me. I was in disbelief! It was a shocking revelation.”
The star further questioned the timing of the allegations, saying, “If this were true, why didn’t this come to light in July ’94? If that was the reason for her breakup with Rajeev, why wait nine months to discuss it?”
She added, “This episode with Manisha really impacted me significantly at first. I cried uncontrollably. I was incredibly hurt by everything that was unfolding around me.” She also mentioned that Manisha kept insisting she had been misquoted.
Aishwarya acknowledged that while she ultimately moved past the controversy, it had a deep impact on her. The incident remains one of Bollywood’s notorious dramas from the past.
On the professional front, Manisha has garnered attention online for her impressive performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web series Heeramandi. The show has been confirmed for a second season, although updates on the returning cast members are still awaited.
Meanwhile, Aishwarya is reportedly in discussions with filmmaker Mani Ratnam for a new film alongside her husband, Abhishek Bachchan. The couple previously collaborated on Guru and Raavan.