When Karisma Kapoor opened up about her 'traumatic' broken engagement with Abhishek Bachchan: 'I withdrew into a shell'

Karisma Kapoor’s personal life has once again found itself in the spotlight after the recent passing of her ex-husband, Sunjay Kapur, on June 12, 2025, following a heart attack. His funeral was held a week later, and naturally, people have been revisiting different chapters of Karisma’s life, including her high-profile engagement with Abhishek Bachchan that made headlines back in the early 2000s.

The big announcement that shocked Bollywood

For those who may not recall, the announcement of Karisma and Abhishek’s engagement was nothing short of grand. It took place during Amitabh Bachchan’s 60th birthday celebrations. But within a year, in 2003, their wedding was called off for reasons best known to the two families. Soon after, life took them on different paths. Karisma went on to marry Delhi-based industrialist Sunjay Kapur, while Abhishek found his life partner in Aishwarya Rai.

Karisma calls it ‘traumatic’

Ending a relationship is never easy, but calling off a wedding, especially when the world is watching, comes with its own share of heartbreak. Karisma herself admitted much later that the entire experience was nothing short of “traumatic.”

In a candid 2003 interview with Rediff, the actress said, “It was deliberate. I withdrew into a shell. I just was not ready to go public with my grief. I chose a dignified silence because that is the kind of person I am. I have always been a woman of few words.”

Learning to heal with time

She confessed that it was one of the toughest phases of her life, adding, “The beginning of this year was traumatic for me. I wouldn’t wish any girl to go through it. I was forced to deal with my hurt and pain on my own. I guess time is the best healer. Though I have been through a lot, I have come to terms with whatever has happened. All I will say is, whatever is destined is bound to happen. I was emotionally unprepared to confront my problems. Life deals you different cards. You have to just go with the shuffle.”

Support from her family

Karisma also credited her family and close circle for helping her heal, saying, “I couldn’t have come out of my trauma if it wasn’t for my parents [Babita and Randhir Kapoor], sister [Kareena], my Dadiji [Krishna Raj Kapoor], my two Buas [Rima Jain and Ritu Nanda], and my close friends.”

Aishwarya and Abhishek got married in 2007 after dating for several years. In 2011, they became parents to their daughter, Aaradhya.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”