MUMBAI: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been trying to become a mother for some time now. The fact that she has so far not gotten pregnant is actually a cause for concern for the entire Bachchan parivar.

According to a close family friend, though outwardly the family may have taken the when-it-happens-it-will-happen stand, but within, there’s a very ardent desire to have an heir for the family as soon as possible.

Mr Bachchan is especially sold on a grandson, but when asked about it he says, as usual, “When it happens, it will happen.”

But the question that is really bothers the family and their close friends is - when? After all, it’s no secret that Aishwarya is 37, and she isn’t getting any younger.

But it now comes to light that the reason for her inability to bear a child at the moment is because she has been suffering from stomach tuberculosis for a while. Says a source, “The medication Aishwarya is taking for her stomach ailment is hampering her from getting pregnant. Until the tuberculosis is fully cured, she is unlikely to risk a pregnancy.”

On his blog, an anguished Amitabh Bachchan has written about ‘the rich man’s TB’, dispelling the myth that the disease only afflicts the less privileged. Now that the supposed reason for the delay in her pregnancy is clearer, we can only hope and pray that the Bachchan bahu speedily recovers from the ailment and fulfills her ardent desire to become a mother.

Meanwhile, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, in a rebuttal to the article, said in a letter:

“I read your article. I am completely shocked, appalled and extremely upset with the contents of the article. I completely deny the report. It is fabricated and false. It is very disappointing that your office did not even bother to verify this article with me, my family, my spokesperson or my office. I would think it only ethical and correct to get the person in question's side of the story or verification before printing such news”.