Aishwarya Rai Gives Birth to Baby Girl

Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has, in the last few hours, given birth to a healthy baby girl.

The 38-year-old former Miss World gave birth to a daughter at the private Seven Hills Hospital in Mumbai, hospital staff have confirmed to AP. Just six hours ago at the time of writing, her 35-year-old husband Abhishek Bachchan announced on Twitter:

“IT’S A GIRL!”

Speculation heated up earlier today after Bollywood’s golden couple checked into hospital. The Bachchans now have a baby daughter to join their acting dynasty – Abhishek’s father is Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan. Though already a grandfather, his joy on Twitter was evident:

“A dada ji (a grandfather)…Ecstatic! She is the cutest baby girl.”

Coverage of the Bachchan’s happy news was fairly muted in India, after television broadcasters had agreed to rein in their usually hyperactive reporting of the family’s private life.

Last week, Indian broadcasters agreed on a list of measures, including an agreement not to trail the event in advance, or even run the announcement on “breaking news” tickers.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan won the Miss World crown in 1994, and her Bollywood debut took place four years later. She is now a veteran of more than 40 Indian films, and remains one of the biggest draws in the Indian film industry – production of her latest movie, Heroine, was put on hold due to her pregnancy.

Our congratulations go out to the happy new parents!