Dhanush and Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth, once considered Kollywood's golden couple, officially ended their marriage in 2024 after two decades together. The Chennai Family Welfare Court granted their divorce, citing marital differences. This marked the end of a journey that began with a serendipitous meeting and evolved into a marriage that lasted eighteen years.

Their first encounter occurred during a screening of Dhanush's film. As Dhanush was about to leave, he was introduced to Aishwaryaa and her sister, Soundarya. The next day, Aishwaryaa sent Dhanush a bouquet with a note that read "Good work, keep in touch". This seemingly simple gesture sparked a connection between them.

In an old interview that resurfaced after their divorce, Dhanush spoke about what drew him to Aishwaryaa when they first met. He said, "I like her simplicity. If you think her father, Rajinikanth, is simple, meet Aishwaryaa. She's 100 times simpler than him". Dhanush's admiration for Aishwaryaa's down-to-earth nature highlighted a quality he deeply valued in her.

Dhanush and Aishwaryaa's marriage was arranged. Dhanush had known Aishwaryaa as his elder sister's friend. Media reports linking them together played a role in their relationship coming into being. Dhanush clarified that it wasn't a love marriage and even thanked the media for his marriage with Aishwaryaa. He also addressed the age difference between them, stating that it never affected him.

In January 2022, Dhanush and Aishwaryaa announced their separation via a joint statement, stating that they had been together as a couple, friends, and parents for eighteen years but had decided to part ways. They emphasized that their journey had been one of growth, understanding, adjusting, and adapting.

Despite their separation, Dhanush and Aishwaryaa remain committed to co-parenting their two sons, Yatra and Linga. They have been seen together on various occasions for their children's sake. In November 2024, the family court in Chennai officially granted them a divorce.

Recently, there was speculation about a possible reconciliation after Dhanush liked Aishwaryaa's social media post. Aishwaryaa had posted pictures celebrating Onam, and Dhanush's interaction with the post fueled discussions among fans. However, whether this interaction signals a reunion or was simply a friendly gesture remains uncertain.

Aishwaryaa began her career in the Tamil film industry as a playback singer. She made her directorial debut with the film "3" (2012), which starred Dhanush and Shruti Haasan. Dhanush, on the other hand, has been involved in other controversies, including a dispute with Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan over the unauthorized use of clips from "Nayan - Wiki" in their Netflix documentary.