Dhanush and Aishwaryaa sent shockwaves across the entertainment industry after they announced their separation. The couple, who had been married for 18 years and have two sons, called it quits in a statement on social media on January 17. The duo shared that they had decided to separate to “understand” themselves as individuals and needed privacy to deal with this. 

While speculations are still rife if the couple will end their marriage officially, especially after Dhanush’s father’s statements, several throwback photos, videos and anecdotes have been going viral on the web. A while back, during an interview with The Times of India, Dhanush had opened up about his now-estranged wife and talked about the one quality that attracted him to Aishwaryaa. 

When he was asked if the fact that Aishwaryaa was Rajinikanth’s daughter attracted him, Dhanush had said, “I don’t see her like that. I like her simplicity. If you think her father is simple, meet Aishwarya.” He added that the filmmaker is simpler than Rajinikanth. “She is 100 times simpler than her father.”

In an official statement, the Atrangi Re actor penned a long note about separation with Aishwaryaa and wrote, “18 years of togetherness as friends, couple, as parents and well wishers to each other. The journey has been of growth, understanding, adjusting and adapting… Today we stand at a place where our paths separate… Aishwaryaa and I have decided to part ways as a couple and take time to understand us as individuals for the better.Please do Respect our decision and give us the needed privacy to deal with this. Om Namashivaaya! Spread love, D.”

Meanwhile, Dhanush has several films in the pipeline. He will be seen in Maaran and Vaathi, among others. He also has an English film, The Gray Man, in the works.