Aishwarya Rai

BOLLYWOOD’s star couple Abhishek and AishwaryaBollywood star Madhuri Dixit recieves the ‘Padma Shri’, one of India’s top National Awards, by the Indian President Pratibha Patil at the Presidential Palace in New Delhi Saturday, May 10, 2008. Rai Bachchan have purchased a house in Dubai, becoming the latest celebrities from India’s tinsel town to acquire property in the gulf island.

Having bought a place in Sanctuary Falls — a 96-villa double-gated community home — the actors also attended a “Residents Party” for owners in Jumeirah Golf Estates’s this week, a gulf daily reported.

While no details were divulged on the couple’s new home, it is expected to be ready in the first quarter of 2010, Gulf News said.

According to the developers, the price of the villas ranges from AED 15 million to AED 35 million (1 AED = $0.272) “Dubai is special to us not just as a place where we enjoy great warmth and generosity in terms of love from the people, but it’s become a remarkable place and one that is so close to home for us,” Abhishek said.

Speaking on the film “Sarkar Raj” — starring both Aishwarya and Abhishek, besides Amitabh Bachchan, which is scheduled to release next week, Aishwarya said the Bachchan family had a great experience working for it and were excited about sharing it with the audience.

“I’m always excited, I’ve never been nervous before (the release of) a film.

It’s been a great experience and I’m looking forward to sharing it with the audiences”, said the former Miss World. The two were yet to watch the film, they said.

Asked if they planned to move to the emirate, Abhishek said relocating “in the real sense” was not on the cards, as the family lived and worked in Mumbai.

However Aishwarya said they were looking forward to spend more time in the island. “It’s so close to Mumbai, so we’ll probably be spending a lot more weekends here,” she was quoted as saying.

A report says that following in the footsteps of Shah Rukh Khan, star couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai have acquired a luxury villa in Dubai.

At a “Residents Party” on Friday night in the 7-star Burj Al Arab hotel, Abhishek and Aishwarya were present as new owners of a villa in the Sanctuary Falls development and introduced to future neighbours by the property’s developers, Shaikh Holdings.

Although no details were divulged on the couple’s new home, which is expected to be ready in the first quarter of 2010, Sanctuary Falls is a 96-villa double-gated community home, comprising five and six bedroom villas ranging from 5,600 to 10,600 square feet.

According to the developers the price of the villas ranges from 15 million UAE Dirhams to 35 million UAE Dirhams. “I don’t think we choose a place, I believe a place chooses you,” said Abhishek with a broad smile on being asked why Dubai.

The couple looked relaxed despite a hectic past week, which included a visit to the Cannes Film Festival, a three-hour walk to Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak temple.

They also displayed no signs of anxiety ahead of Sarkar Raj’s release next week, in which Aishwarya joins Abhishek and father-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan, on screen.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been nervous or stressed out before a film’s release,” said Aishwarya with her trademark giggle.

Dressed in an Indian kurta, Aishwarya held onto Abhishek for most of the evening and did most of the talking when interacting with the small gathering of guests at the reception.

The purchase of the villa in Dubai is bound to prompt speculation that the family might be considering a move out of Mumbai, particularly following political attacks on Amitabh Bachchan.

However, Bachchan Jr was quick to dismiss any suggestion of a shift.”We live in Mumbai and work out of Mumbai. As our whole family is in the acting profession, all our jobs are in Mumbai,” he said.

“I’m quite sure we’ll be spending more weekends here though,” Aishwarya said with a giggle. As visible public figures who generate constant media interest, Abhishek described privacy as “super precious” and added that in the selection of their new home the couple’s concerns towards security and privacy ranked extremely high.

“I’d say it was probably the most important factor for us. Especially the security aspect. As for our public status, we respect the fact that we’re public figures and are aware of the enormous responsibility that comes with it and also realise that we owe our current status to the audiences that love us.

But, our privacy is very dear to us,” he said. In response to reports of Aishwarya increasingly signing films with Abhishek, the actress said: “If a director or filmmaker proposes a film with the two of us in mind, I don’t understand why it’s viewed as a manipulation from our end in order to work together.

If you look at our list of future releases, it’s fairly diverse and we are working with other actors. Ultimately as actors we trust the filmmaker’s judgment with regards to the casting and other technical decisions.”

Describing Dubai as a special place, Aishwarya recalled the premiere of her film Provoked in the presence of Amitabh Bachchan during the 2005 IIFA awards.

“I always have fond memories of Dubai and I’m looking forward to enjoying more special moments during weekend getaways,” she said with a smile.

“Dubai is special to us not just as a place where we enjoy great warmth and generosity in terms of love and acceptance from the people, but it’s become a remarkable city and one that’s so close to home,” Abhishek added.

“We’re a normal couple and are part of a normal family”, Aishwarya said. “It’s very important to us that home is a space where we can enjoy every moment together with the family.”

In what is being publicised as the couple’s first joint investment outside India, other owners of villas at Sanctuary Falls, said they were aware of the couple’s purchase but declined to offer details.

“Whatever it is, given their status, they must have a top-of-the range villa with a top class view,” said Gul Khan, who has also purchased a villa in the development.

Aishwarya and Abhishek’s villa in Dubai will have one of three views - a lake, waterfalls or a golf course - and will probably be one of three architectural styles - traditional, modern or contemporary.

In terms of facilities, according to the developer, all 96 villas will also have a fully landscaped garden, arrival water fountains, resort style swimming pools, Scavolini designer kitchens and Bang & Olufsen home theatre systems.