However, the latest report shows that Dhanush and Aishwaryaa's industry close associates opened about the separation and knew about their rift. A report published on TOI, one of the associates, said, "Five, or maybe even six years, Aishwaryaa and Dhanush were staying together whenever Dhanush was not shooting, but they were hardly a couple. The separation was not entirely shocking but in fact sort of expected and inevitable. It was only a matter of time, it can be said that they took pretty long to announce it but possibly they were trying to repair the relationship."