When the Bachchan family (Amitabh, Abhishek, Shweta Nanda and her two children, Navya and Augustya) left for Russia last week to watch the FIFA World Cup finals on 15 July at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, they were not accompanied by Bachchan bahu Aishwarya Rai and Bachchan Sr’s granddaughter Aaradhya. Reason: Aishwarya was in Paris during that time, fulfilling her work commitments. But MyNation has come to know exclusively that the actress watched the thrilling match between Croatia and France as excitedly as the rest of the world. She left for London on Tuesday with Aaradhya to catch up with her father-in-law and husband for a much-needed break.

A source said, “Everyone knows that Abhishek is a huge football fan. He not only plays football and is captain of Bunty Walia’s All Stars Football Club (ASFC) but owns the football team, Chennaiyin FC, along with Vita Dani and former India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. While many know that Aishwarya has accompanied her husband to cheer for his team’s games, few know that Aishwarya has grown to be quite passionate for the game and she watched the FIFA World Cup final at her Paris hotel after completing all her work assignments through the day.

She had a photoshoot on 15 July and they had to wrap everything early as everyone was excited to watch the FIFA World Cup final. It was a wonderful experience for her as Aishwarya loves Paris, so she could be right there to capture France’s victory over Croatia from their hotel room (the Paris Le Grand Intercontinental, which has hosted royalty through its history). She later excitedly clicked pictures of the celebrations on Parisian streets from her hotel balcony and posted these on social media.”

The source added, “It was a work-cum-holiday for Aishwarya as she was there for one of her brand events but she was accompanied by her mother Vrinda, and Aaradhya. It was only after Aishwarya finished her work assignments that she and Aaradhya went to London to meet Abhishek and his father on Monday. She was in Paris for three work assignments and in between, she would spend time with her daughter. They also visited Disneyland Paris and a couple of amusement parks for children. Only after all her work got over did she and Aaradhya fly to London to join Abhishek – he never went to Paris to meet them.”